Striving for ‘an amicable redressal of issues’ surrounding the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), several pontiffs and leaders organised a meeting here on Saturday to chart out an action plan in addressing them.
Hampi Virupaksha Mutt Pontiff Sri Vidyaranya Bharati Swamy told the media that a ‘Hindu Dharmika Parishad must be established in Andhra Pradesh to focus not only on the TTD issue but also those of other temples, if any. “After the preliminary discussions, we have decided on five major resolutions. Besides the ‘Hindu Dharmika Parishad’, we want to discuss [with the State government) continuation of those in hereditary professions at the Tirumala temple, a new committee headed by a sitting judge to file a report on the status of the jewellery, transfer officials from other faiths working in temple-based organisations to other departments and utilise income accrued from the temples for themselves and organisations run by them.”
The meeting said these initial resolutions would be discussed in detail with the officials concerned. They might come out with other issues, if any. Elucidating on the glory of Lord Venkateswara and Tirumala, the Hindu leaders clarified that they were not under anybody’s influence or had party affiliations and urged everyone to treat this issue as a non-political one.
“We will hold the negotiations, positively, on how to deal with the problem, with the State government and expect the same from the latter. Let us not assign any political hue/angle to the problem and strive for betterment of society.”
With respect to future meetings, they said they would involve the stakeholders concerned and take appropriate steps for amicable resolution. Pontiffs and leaders Kamalananda Bharati, Siva Swamy, Paripoornananda Swamy, Pranavananda Swamy, Girishananda Swamy Swaswaroopananda Swamy and others took part.