Author:
Publication: Andhra Jyothy.com
Date: August 3, 2006
URL: http://news.andhrajyothy.com/dotNews/dotNews-readNews.aspx?newsId=347
BJP demands inquiry into Tirupati 'conversion'
incidents
Hyderabad, Aug 2 Andhra Pradesh BJP today
demanded an inquiry into the alleged conversions and Christian proselytising
on the Tiruamala Hills, claiming it hurt the religious sentiments of the majority
community.
"There has been a systematic and methodical
campaign in the temple town of Tirupati and some of the officials working
with the holy shrine are also abetting conversions," state secretary
K Laxman told reporters here today.
Alleging that large-scale proselytising was
being carried out by missionaries in the the temple town, Laxman said some
of the top posts were "deliberately" given to non-Hindus.
A campaign was carried out recently at the
Padmavati Womens' University, aided by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, propogating
Christianity, he alleged.
He claimed that preaching was being done in
buses and residential areas, and demanded that an inquiry be ordered to bring
out facts on the "presence and style of operation of Christian missionaries"
at Tirupati.
The Left parties were trying to blame BJP
for "politicising" the issue but the facts would come out if an
impartial inquiry was ordered into the entire episode, he added.
Two youths were arrested while they were allegedly
recording on video a +Cross+ painted on a house while two nuns were taken
into custody while they were allegedly distributing flowers and "material"
at a hospital recently which fuelled the controversy.
