Uncertainty over Hindu pontiffs’ meeting

TUDA denies permission citing ‘security issues’; pontiffs threaten to hold meeting in front of the Islamic University building

December 19, 2013 12:54 am | Updated 12:54 am IST - TIRUPATI

With just two days to go for the ‘Hindu Garjana’, a sense of stalemate hangs over the proposed meeting of 100 Hindu pontiffs and leaders drawn from five southern States, as the event organiser Tirumala Tirupati Pavitratha Samrakshana Vedika struggles to find a venue.

The Vedika had sought permission from the Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) to allot its Indira Maidanam in the city for the mammoth congregation of around 10,000 people, meant to highlight the growing terrorist threat to Tirupati and voice concern over the establishment of Islamic University near the foot of Tirumala hills.

The venue for the meeting was also blocked by making the necessary payment almost a month ago.

Apart from pontiffs like Saiva Kshetra Peetadhipathi Siva Swamiji, Kamalanandha Bharati and Paripoornananda Swamy, the organisers invited Hindu leaders like Sri Ram Sena (Karnataka) chief Pramod Muthalik, Hindu Munnani (Tamil Nadu) leader Arjun Sampath and Hindu Jana Jagruti Samithi (Maharashtra) president Ramesh Shinde for the event.

Even as the publicity blitzkrieg to mobilise crowd is well underway, the TUDA authorities denied permission citing ‘security issues’ and even wrote to the district Collector and Superintendent of Police (Tirupati Urban) for counsel. Similarly, the Tirupati Muslim Joint Action Council (JAC) petitioned the Collector not to allow the event, as it had the potential to arouse religious passions.

Piqued at the sudden development when the delegates have already arrived, the Vedika has threatened to move the court or even hold the event right in front of the Islamic University building at Thondavada on the city outskirts.

“The TUDA officials gave permission to a Christian missionary to hold a prayer meeting recently, but are denying the same to us showing the ‘religious angle’. Why this discrepancy?” asks the Vedika’s spokesperson, A. Krishna Kishore.

Meanwhile, the pontiffs have announced to hold ‘Intintiki Hindu Dharmam’, a programme to reach out to every household, on Thursday.

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