New Delhi: Telangana BJP President and Union Home Minister G Kishan Reddy has expressed support for the recent decision made by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to ensure that only Hindus are employed in roles related to temple administration. The announcement comes after a meeting of the newly constituted TTD trust board, which resolved to assess the number of non-Hindu employees and move them to other government departments or offer them voluntary retirement schemes.

Reddy, while speaking to Republic TV, welcomed the move, which he said had been a long-standing demand. “It had been a demand for the last many days. Non-Hindus should not be near God,” Reddy remarked, adding, “We will not remove people from jobs, we will employ them somewhere else. I welcome the decision taken by the TTD board. I thank them for this.”

The TTD’s decision comes on the heels of a controversial adulteration scandal involving ghee used for the preparation of the famous Tirumala laddus. During their meeting on Monday, the TTD board, chaired by BR Naidu, decided to review the current employment structure, which includes 44 employees from other religious backgrounds, according to a 2018 report. The board has now directed that these employees be either reassigned within the state government or offered early retirement options.

Speaking to reporters, Naidu emphasized that TTD is a Hindu religious institution, and the board felt it necessary to limit employment to Hindus in roles that are directly connected to the temple. “We shall write to the state government to take an appropriate decision regarding the non-Hindus working in Tirumala,” he said.

In addition to the staffing decision, the TTD board took several other measures to address recent controversies and improve temple administration. The board has proposed the formation of a committee to regularly monitor the quality of ghee used in preparing prasadams, including the Tirumala laddu, in response to concerns over its adulteration. Furthermore, TTD has announced plans to enhance the food offerings at the Anna Prasadam complex, where free meals are provided to devotees.

The board also made a significant decision to bar political leaders from making political statements at Tirumala, with stringent action promised for those who attempt to politicize the sacred hill. Additionally, TTD has resolved to transfer all of its cash deposits from private banks to nationalized banks for better security.

Among other resolutions, the TTD trust board announced the abolition of the SRIVANI Trust, which had been set up by the previous government to collect funds for the restoration of dilapidated temples. The SRIVANI Trust account will now be merged into the TTD account, with the scheme continuing in a new format.

Other decisions include improving the darshan experience for pilgrims by utilizing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, clearing debris from the Tirumala dumping yard, and enhancing remuneration for TTD employees involved in the Brahmotsavams.