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On the action against TTD employees, Asaduddin Owaisi said the action gives a very wrong message

Priya Verma February 06, 2025 12:27 PM

New Delhi: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Wednesday that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) sent a very wrong message when it took action against workers who followed non-Hindu religious practices while they were employed by the organization. He also urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to change his mind.

Following this ruling, the Hyderabad MP also questioned the rationale behind Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party’s support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

On what grounds is N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) endorsing the Waqf Amendment Bill, which states that at least two non-Muslims may serve on state Muslim waqf boards, but TTD workers are being fired just for not being Hindu? This is conveying the incorrect message, and he needs to change his mind. How does the Waqf Amendment Bill allow for the inclusion of any non-Muslim on the Waqf board? For Muslims, the Waqf board is very sacred. Speaking to the media report, Owaisi said, “This is absolutely incorrect.

Since that is the state government’s position, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh said that there is no need to reconsider. “That is our government’s position. There isn’t any hesitation about it. “We discussed it prior to the elections, and we remain committed to it,” Lokesh said during a press conference in the nation’s capital.

TTD said in a statement that TTD Chairman BR Naidu ordered the action to be implemented. “Following the directions of TTD Chairman BR Naidu, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has initiated action against employees adhering to non-Hindu religious practices while working in the institution,” said the statement.

“Even though they work for TTD, authorities have found 18 workers who practice non-Hindu religious customs. 18 identified workers who are taking part in TTD celebrations and rituals while simultaneously engaging in non-Hindu religious activities have been ordered to undergo disciplinary action,” the statement said.

Aside from that, the Board has suggested voluntary retirement or transfers to other government agencies for these staff members in order to maintain the spiritual integrity of TTD’s activities.