Only Hindus should be employed at Tirumala temple, others will be transferred: Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated on Friday that only Hindus should be employed at the Tirumala temple. He added that individuals from other communities, who are currently working there, would be reassigned to other departments without hurting their sentiments.

"Only Hindus should be employed at the Tirumala temple. If individuals from other religions are currently working there, they will be relocated to other places without hurting their sentiments," Naidu was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The chief minister also announced plans to build Venkateswara Swamy temples in all state capitals across India.

Expressing his devotion to Lord Venkateswara, Naidu revealed that he survived multiple targeted attacks due to the "Lord's immense power."

"I was targeted with 24 Claymore mines. Surviving such an attack was impossible, but I lived solely due to the divine grace of Lord Venkateswara. The fact that I survived such a massive explosion proves the Lord's immense power."

Earlier in February, 18 employees of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the Tirupati temple, faced disciplinary action for reportedly practicing non-Hindu religions while working under the temple administration.

They have all been barred from engaging in the temple's religious affairs and were directed to seek transfers to roles unrelated to temple activities.

Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday visited the Tirumala Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple along with his family to offer prayers on the occasion of his grandson Devaansh's birthday.

He was accompanied by his entire family, which included his wife, Bhuvaneswari, son and Andhra's IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, daughter-in-law Brahmani, and grandson, Devaansh.