TTD Board Chairman B.R. Naidu Announces Hindu-Only Staff Policy at Tirumala Temple

Nov 2, 2024, 08:06 AM

The newly appointed chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board, B.R. Naidu, has announced a policy that mandates only Hindus should work at the temple's premises. Naidu stated that staff members of other religions should be given the option of voluntary retirement or reassignment to other departments. This decision has sparked significant controversy, with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticizing the policy and drawing parallels to the Waqf Boards, which manage Muslim endowments. Owaisi argues that while the TTD enforces a Hindu-only policy, the Indian government is pushing for non-Muslims to be included in Waqf Boards. The BJP has responded by accusing Owaisi of polarizing politics and misleading the public. Naidu also emphasized that only Hindus should be on the temple board.