TIRUPATI: An uneasy situation prevails in the temple city following protests by Hindu organisations against the upcoming religious convention of Christian organisation Pentecostal Mission, to be held between October 6 and 9.
The annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara is being held in the city. Garuda Seva will be held on Friday.
Hindu organisations like Hindu Chaitanya Samithi, Siva Sakthi Sena, Hindu Dharma Raksha Samanvaya Samithi, Tirumala Tirupati Samrakshana Samithi and others are strongly objecting to the Christian convention being organised near a cotton mill adjacent to Tirupati-Renigunta road.
They are preparing an action plan to stall the programme, which they alleged would hurt the sentiments of Hindu people who are coming from to participate in Srivari Brahmotsavams.
Hindu Chaitanya Samiti president T. Omkar said: “It is not the first time the Pentecostal Mission is organising its religious convention (Suvartha Svasthatha Sabhalu) in the temple city during Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara. Last year also, we objected to it and approached the police, but to no avail. This year again, the Christian organisation is preparing to hold its conventions during Brahmotsavams, for which we presented the matter to the police and administration for taking severe action.”
He asked the TTD to intervene and direct officials to take appropriate action against the Christian Mission for stalling its religious congregation, which might hurt the feelings of Hindus.
Tirumala Tirupati Samrakshana Samithi joint secretary Ratakonda Viswanath, who held a dharna at the sub-collector’s office here on Monday against Pentecostal Mission’s religious congregation, said they had submitted representations to the SP, ASP, MROs of Renigunta, Chandragiri, Urban and Rural Tirupati to take action against the mission.
“The mission has no permission from the police to conduct its congregation, but it is intentionally organising the programme. The organisation has support from some politicos, who also participated during last year’s programme,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Pentecostal Mission church member Prof. Deva Sangeetam maintained that the schedule of the religious congregation was not in their hands. “Our headquarters at Chennai decided the international programme schedule that was confirmed a year ago. At this juncture, we have already made arrangements for about 10,000 people across from the world to participate in the congregation. It is not possible to postpone the programme. We are not disturbing the religious harmony in the city and our congregation will be held 2 km away from the city. Following complaints by some Hindu organisations, senior police officials also sought our explanation. We assured them in writing that from next year onwards, we will keep away doing our programmes during the Brahmotsavams and other festivals,” he said.
Police officials were not available to comment. Meanwhile, sources at Tirupati urban mandal revenue office disclosed that 31 churches, including Pentecostal Mission, were functioning without taking any permission from the government.
“In December 2014, then Tirupati Urban MRO I. Subrahmanyam released a list of 31 churches that did not have permission and he issued notices to those churches. But till today, no action has been taken against those churches,” they said.
Key points:
On December 19, 2014, the Hindu Dharmaraksha Samanavya Samithi staged a dharna in front of Tirupati urban tahsildar office and demanded to ban 31 churches and 23 masjids that were operating illegally in the temple city without any permission. Then MRO I. Subrahmanyam assured the agitators that notices will be issued to illegal churches and masjids and take appropriate action, but nothing happened till date.
