Since the fundamental objection to Hon’ble CM KCRs historic donation which we believe in times to come will ensure that both the States will solve its problems in a spirit of brotherhood and in a peaceful manner by grace of Lord Balaji by a section of the National Media is due to mis-information that this is out of tax payers money the actual facts are as follows :-The Temples Protection Movement which is run from Chilkur Balaji Temple in its submission to Justice Sri Krishna Committee on formation of Telangana State gave its recommendations that there should be no regional boundaries for our temples as it belongs to all of us and promoting such a devotional spirit will ensure lasting peace and prosperity for people of both states.
“We would like the temples which are the spiritual wealth of all the people of the State to continue to belong to everyone. This is similar to the scenario where the material property is divided between brothers of a family but the parents are still common to both and are looked after jointly”
We had also represented in our memorandum to Justice Sri Krishna Committee that the longstanding issues relating to Archakas should be resolved by the State of Andhra Pradesh in a spirit of Dharma for lasting peace and prosperity of the people and recently the State of Andhra Pradesh has issued Service rules for Archakas largely correcting the injustice meted to this community over the years due to the draconian 30/87 AP Endowments Act. The Archakas in the State of Andhra Pradesh have prayed for peace and prosperity in all temples as a thanksgiving measure yesterday in a spirit of satisfaction after a long drawn struggle lasting over several decades.
It is heartening to note that Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri K. Chandrasekar Rao as reported widely in the press yesterday has prayed for peace and prosperity for the people of both States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh after making his historic thanksgiving donation to Lord Balaji at Tirumala for granting his wish for formation of State of Telangana.
While a section of the National TV media unfortunately missed the wood for the trees on reporting this historic occasion Lord Balaji himself has blessed the sentiment and the wish with which the above donation was made as coincidentally the Sampangi (Champak) Sapling that Hon’ble CM had planted in the premises of Chilkur Balaji Temple also famous as Telangana Tirupathi in July 2015 to launch his historic Telanganaku Haritha Haram (The biggest afforestation initiative through which more than 30 crore saplings have been planted so far) blossomed and the very first flower was offered to Lord Balaji yesterday at Chilkur temple.
Since the fundamental objection to Hon’ble CM KCRs historic donation which we believe in times to come will ensure that both the States will solve its problems in a spirit of brotherhood and in a peaceful manner by grace of Lord Balaji by a section of the National Media is due to mis-information that this is out of tax payers money the actual facts are as follows :-
1. The donation is out of Common Good Fund (CGF) which is based on percentage of Hindu Temples income i.e Hindu devotee money not tax payer money. (refer G.O.Ms.No 23 dated 24.2.2015)
2. TTD has in the past also donated crores of rupees to this fund before State bifurcation and 42% of the same is now part of Telangana CGF fund and if 5 Crores which is a small portion of Lord Balaji’s own money is used to adorn him with ornaments as a thanksgiving for formation of Telangana we should not raise hue and cry for the same.
3. There is also a demand that arrears due from TTD towards this CGF fund before bifurcation which runs to hundreds of crores be given for the protection of low income temple of Telangana. Hopefully by grace of Lord Balaji this will happen now through goodwill created by the spirit of devotion exhibited and the sentiment behind the donation of Hon’ble CM
4. In the past in Karnataka from CGF fund of Hindu devotee money Haj subsidy was funded and was stopped after Justice Rama Jois Committee faulted it strongly as unconstitutional but there was no such hue and cry raised by the media.
We hope in light of the above facts the media will correct the narrative on the historic donation made by the Hon’ble CM KCR to Lord Balaji of Tirumala with a wish for peace and prosperity for people in both States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. M.V. Soundararajan
(Convenor Temples Protection Movement)
