A political storm has brewed in India after the new chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board, B R Naidu, declared that only Hindus should be employed at the Tirupati temple, the abode of Lord Venkateswara. This statement sparked immediate backlash from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who leveraged the situation to criticize the Modi government’s proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
Owaisi pointed out the inconsistency in the government’s approach, highlighting the proposed inclusion of two non-Muslim members in the central Waqf Council while advocating for a Hindu-only workforce at the Tirupati temple. He questioned the rationale behind this disparity, demanding parity in religious representation on both boards. “Not even a single member of the 24 members of TTD Board… is a non-Hindu… The new Chairman of TTD says that the people working there should be Hindu…,” Owaisi said, as quoted by ANI.
He continued, “We are not against this, we just have an objection to the fact that Narendra Modi’s government is saying in the proposed bill of Waqf that in the central Waqf Council, it has been made mandatory that two non-Muslim members should be there… Why are you bringing this provision in the Waqf bill?”
Owaisi further emphasized his point, stating, “TTD is a board of the Hindu religion and Waqf Board is for the Muslim religion. There should be parity… When the trustees of TTD cannot be Muslims, how will a non-Muslim member be on the Waqf Board?”
The Waqf Act, which governs the administration of Waqf properties in India, was introduced in 1995. In August, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was presented in the Lok Sabha, aiming to implement reforms, enhance transparency, and establish a legal framework for reclaiming illegally acquired properties. However, this recent development has brought the bill under scrutiny, with Owaisi’s pointed criticism highlighting the potential for religious discrimination and the need for consistent application of principles across religious institutions.
Naidu, on the other hand, has indicated that he intends to discuss the matter with the Andhra Pradesh government, exploring options for employees belonging to other religions, including potential transfers to other government departments or the offer of Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS). This situation has ignited a national debate about religious representation in public institutions and the role of government in upholding religious equality while navigating the complex terrain of cultural and religious sensitivities.
