Wed Nov 20 11:31:46 UTC 2024: ## Minister Commends Tirumala Temple’s Actions, Calls for Stricter Enforcement of Religious Purity
**TIRUMALA, November 20, 2024** – Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy lauded the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board for its recent decisions aimed at preserving the sanctity of the Tirumala temple. During his first visit to Tirumala since the recent parliamentary elections, Reddy specifically praised the TTD’s relocation of non-Hindu employees to other government departments.
“Individuals belonging to a particular religion should ideally work within religious institutions of their own faith,” Reddy stated, emphasizing that the presence of non-Hindu individuals in temple management had caused division and eroded devotees’ faith. He called for the avoidance of such situations to maintain spiritual harmony.
The Minister also welcomed the TTD’s ban on political activities within the temple town, deeming them incompatible with its spiritual nature. He urged stronger enforcement of this ban, including revoking darshan privileges for violators, stating that filing cases alone is insufficient.
Reddy underscored Tirumala’s importance as a place of devotion, not a tourist destination, and urged the TTD to prevent future controversies that could offend Hindu sentiments worldwide. His comments follow recent incidents that sparked public debate and concern.
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