TTD Chairman Says Only Hindus in Tirumala but Centre Wants Non-Muslims in Waqf Boards: Owaisi

Hyderab: AIMIM chief and MP Asuddin Owaisi raked up issue of proposed appointment of non-Muslims members to Waqf board, by comparing it with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board which will have only Hindus as its staff members.

He said that TTD has mandated appointment of only Hindu members to its board n why can't central Waqf Council have only Muslim members on religion grounds.

Drawing parallel between TTD, a temple body responsible for managing Tirupati temple in Andhra Presh, and Waqf Board, Owaisi said, "TTD is a board of Hindu religion and Waqf Board is for Muslim religion. re should be parity...When trustees of TTD cannot be Muslims, how will a non-Muslim member be on Waqf Board?..."

"...Not even a single member of 24 members of TTD Board (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) is a non-Hindu... new Chairman of TTD says that people working re should be Hindu...We are not against this, we just have an objection to fact that Narendra Modi 's government is saying in proposed bill of Waqf that in central Waqf Council, it has been me mandatory that 2 non-Muslims members should be re...Why are you bringing this provision in Waqf bill?," he ded.

Taking to X, AIMIM MP on Friday night wrote, “Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ chairman says that only Hindus should work in Tirumala. But Modi govt wants to make it mandatory for re to be non-Muslims in Waqf Boards & Waqf Council. Most Hindu Endowment laws insist that only Hindus should be its members. What is good for goose should be good for gander, no? (sic)”

Hyderab MP's remarks came days after TTD's newly-appointed chairman BR Naidu announced appointment of only Hindu-members to 24-member board. Naidu on Thursday, October 31, me it clear that all those who work at Tirumala, abode of Lord Venkateswara, should be Hindus.

"Everyone who works at Tirumala should be Hindu. That would be my first effort. re are many issues in this. We have to look into that," Naidu has said.

Notably, Tirumala temple or Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, found itself at centre of a storm over ulteration allegation in its 'prasam'.

BR Naidu, who alleged that many irregularities took place at Tirumala during previous YSR Congress regime, said sanctity of temple should be safeguarded.