PLEASE READ --- Appeal to stop Auction by AP Govt. of Sri Swami Hathiramji Matham - Tirupathi Tirumala land

[Guest guest]

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajasekhara Reddy, is a Christian. He is

creating havoc and trying to destroy Hindu Religion

 

"Krishan Bhatnagar" <krishan.kb

[VHS] Appeal to stop Auction by AP Govt. of Sri Swami Hathiramji Matham

- Tirupathi Tirumala land

 

Here is a disturbing news of AUCTION of Sri Swami Hathiramji Matham - Tirupahti

land by govt. of Andhra Pradesh on August 9, 2004 - barely a week from now. This

is explained in the appeal to the CM of Andhra Pradesh attached below.

 

We request that you send your own comments as well . Here are some email

addresses, etc. :

 

Chief Minister , Andhra Pradesh: cmap

President of India pressecy

(President's press secretary)

fax : 2301 7290 (in New Delhi)

Prime Minister: manmohan

VHP, New Delhi: jaishriram , vyas ,

jaishriram

BJP, New Delhi bjpco

Shri LK Advani, advanilk

Mrs. Sonia Gandhi soniagandhi

Indian Embassy, } 2107 massachusettes Ave, NW,

Washington, DC, Phone: (202) 939-7000

>

> Sincerely

> Krishan Bhatnagar

> Maryland, USA

>

> =============================

> Letter to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

>

> Hon'ble YS Rajasekhara Reddy

> Chief Minister

> Andhra Pradesh

>

> Appeal to stop Auction by AP Govt. of Sri Swami Hathiramji

Matham Tirupathi Tirumala land

>

> Hon'ble Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy,

>

> We are highly disturbed at the news of AUCTION of Sri Swami Hathiramji

> Matham - Tirupahti land by govt. of Andhra Pradesh on August 9, 2004 -

> barely a week from now (attachment A).

>

> This Matham is the true holder of sacred Tirumala properties. It is

> supposed to be controlled by the Pedda Jeeyar and Chinna Jeeyar Mathams

and

> dates back to Saint Ramanujacharya who established the bodies. The

> properties held are not of recent origin, but have been owned for

> centuries.

>

> We may also wish to remind you of the destruction of the 600 year-old

1000

> pillar temple recently at Tirumala for sake of VIP security as another

> example of the govt. indifference to Hindu religious sentiments and

against

> the norms of trusteeship. Here are some more comments related to govt.

> control of temples in Andhra Pradesh.

>

> In Andhra Pradesh, we understand, they have a bureaucracy of 77,000 to

> manage some 33,000 temples, diverting 85% of revenue to state exchequer

> according to some estimates, while pujarees starve and basic poojas are

> hard

> to perform due to financial squeeze. We are told that after the new Govt.

> took office in AP recently, the People's War Group has put red flags on

> temple lands in some districts with intent to allot them to peasants;

and

> the Collector of Palnadu is reported to have a plan to distribute 3000

> acres

> of Temple Lands under the Endowments Department in that area

>

> Furthermore, the endowment records also confirm that the authorities

> acquired temple lands for bus stations, police stations, Govt. offices,

> hospitals and power stations etc. several times in the past. In a secular

> society these discriminatory actions against a particular religious group

> must be considered highly questionable, inappropriate and

unconstitutional.

> Over and above this the Govt. has yet to reimburse Rs. 28 crores to the

> endowment dept. as cost of the acquired lands (attachment B). In legal

> terms

> that is pure and simple "default." Which means that the AP Govt. failed

to

> pay and consequently failed as a trustee for ensuring the clean

management

> of the Hindu endowments.

>

> These actions seriously jeopardize the preservation and propagation of

> Hindu cultural and spiritual values and therefore, calls for the total

> withdrawal of the state from controlling religious entities. The Indian

> system of constitutional domain demands that the jurisdiction of managing

> religious entities must reside in the members of their respective

religious

> communities as is the case of Christian and Muslim religious

institutions.

> There must be a separation of state and religion in a secular state.

>

> Democratic and secular governments do not penalize or patronize

religions.

> Such extra legal actions constitute a reverse discrimination against

> India's

> majority community. Acts that result in destroying the religious fabric

of

> the majority community, for how so ever noble cause particularly, in a

> democratic, secular and freedom loving society are beyond the frame of

> reference for the government. Only autocratic and totalitarian regimes

> engage in such acts of cultural destruction of people, not constitutional

> democracies.

>

> The "Places of Worship (special provisions) Act 1991" by the Lok Sabha,

> that stipulates "to provide for the maintenance of the religious

character

> of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August 1947" is

> being violated . The lands were endowed to the temples for their support

> in

> perpetuity to ensure their religious character and not as discretionary

for

> the trustees.

>

> There are some basic questions: When the whole world is already aflame

> with

> the "jihad ideology", is it wise for governments to incite the tolerant

> Hindus by grievously violating their religious sensitivities? Why are

only

> Hindus treated as the chosen people for robbing their religious autonomy?

> The Waqf Board of Muslims and the management of Christian religious

> institutions have vast funds, properties and endowments, in addition to

the

> immense flow of foreign funds. Why are they permitted to remain free of

> nationalization, interference and Govt. control, with their autonomy

> intact?

>

> May we request you to take urgent action to rescind the order for

> auction that is against the norms of trusteeship. This is also against

the

> very basic tenets of Nehruvian secularism - separation of state and

> religion - that you and your Congress party publicly profess. A billion

> strong Hindu community worldwide is highly agitated on this issue.

>

> Sincerely

>

> Dr. Jagan Kaul August 1, 2004

> Krishan Bhatnagar

> Hindu Jagran Forum

> Maryland, USA

>

> =======================================================

>

> (Attachment A)

>

> OFFICE OF THE ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICER

>

> SRI SWAMI HATHIRAMJI MATHAM-TIRUPATHI

> R.C.No.B4/883/96

> Dt:06-7-2004

> ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SALE OF LAND

>

> Land belonging to Sri Swami Hathiramji Matham, Tirupathi

> situated in Tirupathi Village situated in survey No.187/2 to the extent

of

> A

> 0.56 Cents shall be auctioned on 9-8-2004, Monday at 11.00 AM on

> as-is-where-is basis in the presence of Officers of the Endowments

> Department in tender-cum-open auction. Those desirous of participating

> shall obtain and submit Demand Draft in favour of Adminstrative Oficer,

> Sri

> Swami Hathiramji Matham, Tirupathi on any Nationalized Bank for

> Rs.5,00,000/- (rupees five lakhs only) towards Earnest Money Deposit and

> participate in the auction. (Cheques are not accepted).

>

> 1) Successful bidder shall pay 1/3 rd of the bid amount soon after

the

> completion of the auction. (Earnest Money Deposit shall be treated as

> seperate)

>

> 2) Soon after obtaining the approval orders from Commissioner,

> Endowments Department, Hyderabad, balance amount shall be settled within

15

> days and land should be registered at their own cost.

>

> 3) Sri Swami Hathiramji Matham reserves the right to postpone, or

> cancel the auction without assigning any reasons.

>

> 4) The land shall be handed over soon after the completion of

> registration process.

>

> For other conditions, details, The Adminstrative Oficer, Sri

> Swami

> Hathiramji Matham, Tirupathi may be contacted either directly or through

> Ph.No.2220015 during the office hours (excepting during Government

> Holidays).

>

> SRI ARJUNDAS JI

> (Sd)M.SANJEEVAREDDY

> SRI MAHANTH

> ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICER

> SRI SWAMI HATHIRAMJI MATHAM

> SRI SWAMI HATHIRAMJI MATHAM

> TIRUPATHI-TIRUMALA

> TIRUPATHI-TIRUMALA

>

> Note: This notice appeared in Eenadu, August 1, 2004. Tamil Nadu Edition

> on p.no.3 of the regional issue.

> ===========================================

>

>

> Attachment B

> Now Naidu eyes temple lands

> Hindustan Times, July 07, 2003

> Ashok Das

> (Hyderabad, July 6)

>

> The temple of Lord Venakateswara at Tirupati is lucky. The Andhra

Pradesh

> government has finally backed off from its demand for Rs 36 crore from

this

> cash-rich shrine, in the wake of public outcry and a litigation in the

high

> court.

> > However, lesser known temples are not so lucky. The government has

> initiated moves to take away temple lands and distribute them among

poorer

> sections in the name of social justice. According to endowment department

> sources, around 80 per cent of the 27,000-odd temples have no income

other

> than what they get from the vested lands. And once the lands are taken

> away,

> puja in many temples will have to be stopped.

>

> The decision to acquire endowment lands was prompted after district

> collectors reported the unavailability of adequate government land and

> secondly because of litigation involving available lands. The government

> fixed a target of 8 lakh house site pattas this year, after Chief

Minister

> Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement at the TDP's Tirupati meet.

>

> Revenue officials said, the state needs around 40,000 acres to meet the

> target and by tapping endowment properties the state could meet only one

> third of the requirement. 3,000 acres of land have been identified for

> acquisition.

>

> TDP leaders defend the government's stand. "The lands are under the

> temples' control for namesake only. The people cultivating them are

giving

> little or nothing. At least this way, it will serve a better cause," said

a

> TDP member.

> Opposition parties have assailed the move. "The endowment lands come

free

> as government-appointed officials control the temples and few would dare

to

> challenge the order," said a BJP leader.

>

> Endowment records show the government acquired temple lands several

times

> in the past for bus stands, police stations, government offices,

hospitals,

> power stations etc. It was yet to reimburse Rs 28 crores to the endowment

> department towards the value of the acquired land.

>

>

>