("IANS," April 28, 2007)
Hyderabad, India - The Andhra Pradesh government
Friday decided to promulgate an ordinance prohibiting
propagation of other religions in certain notified
places of worship belonging to any particular
religion.
The move is mainly aimed at banning propagation
of any religion other than Hinduism at the Lord
Venkateshwara temple on Tirumala Hills near
Tirupati.
Taking a strong note of evangelical activities
around the famous hill shrine, the state cabinet
decided to promulgate the ordinance.
It will provide a similar protection to important
mosques and churches from intrusions in the
form of propaganda by religions other than Islam
and Christianity respectively. The ban will
be applicable to propaganda of any other religion,
by word, spoken or written, visible representation
like wall-writing, and distribution of printed
material, at a place where one religion is already
popular and traditionally practised.
Anybody found violating the provisions of the
ordinance will be sentenced to three years'
imprisonment or imposed a fine of Rs.5,000 or
both.
The decision to promulgate the ordinance was
taken at the state cabinet, which met here a
day after 17 new ministers were inducted by
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
Minister for Information Anam Ramnarayan Reddy
told newsmen that list of places of worship
to be covered and their jurisdiction would be
notified under the ordinance. It would also
clearly mention that the shrine of Lord Venkateswara
at Tirumala consists of Seven Hills and not
just two as was being projected by some groups.The
state has 24 major temples including Tirumala
temple.
He said the moved was aimed at ensuring that
the sentiments of any religious group was not
hurt and public order at such places of worship
was not disturbed.
He said the cabinet took strong note of propagation
of other religions on Tirumala Hills. He reiterated
that the purview of the ancient temple covers
all seven hills and not two hills as being claimed
by some vested interests. He said all the seven
hills within a radius of 332 square km come
under the purview of the temple of Lord Venkateswara.
There have been demands from various Hindu groups
in recent months to ban propagation of other
religions on Tirumala hills. There were also
protests over conversion attempts by some Christian
missionaries around the famous shrine.
