04-23-2007, 05:09 AM
via email
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Chicago: A peaceful protest for highlighting AP Government's gross mismanagement of Hindu temples and to save them from destruction, is scheduled during the visit of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy (YSR), during the reception given by TANA and ATA.
The event will take place in Chicago at Donald Stephens Convention Center (847-692-2220) on Sunday, May 6th, at 4:30PM. Additional information along with (optional) registration details is posted at http://www.savetemples.org/. People needing car pool can send email to bharatmat@gmail.com.
It is a matter of deep concern that India, boasting to be the largest secular democracy and aspiring to be a member of the UN Security Council, denies its own majority community the human right of religious freedom and liberty to manage their places of worship.
The protest is to bring awareness to the alarming situation in Andhra Pradesh (AP) where Hindu temples, Institutions and Hinduism itself are illegally targeted by YSR Government crusade. Under Hindu Temple Endowment act, about 34,000 Temples are under Govt. control. Only 18% of revenue generated is said to be given back for temples purposes, while remaining 82% used for other purposes by Govt. at their discretion. Looting, Massive sale of temple lands, Demolition, Encroachments, aggressive religious conversions in temples vicinity is occurring all over AP. Government which is supposed to be a protector has become a destroyer that threatens the very existence of Hindu Institutions. The World famous Tirupathi temple is specially targeted.Â
YSR belongs to Christian faith and in spite of being elected overwhelmingly by Hindu population of AP, his govt. has been engaging in activities highly detrimental to Hinduism. His Govt. attempted to take over 5 out of 7 Tirumala Hills for Church and Tourism. He is recently alleged to use Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) money for a Hockey tournament in his parents name. AP Govt. appointed vice Chancellor of Padmavathi University funded by TTD has been engaging in rabid conversions and is believed to be cause of death of a Hindu student forced to convert. He plans to reward her with honorary Legislator's position in AP Assembly.
AP Govt. allowed demolition of 10 temples for construction of a golf course. YSR's son blew up a temple in Anantpur and his brother Vivekananda Reddy encroached on Gurukul trust lands worth crores of rupees. While taking extra precautions to protect Churches and Mosques with money from state treasury, Govt. is selling or donating for various Govt. Schemes and non Hindu purposes, tens of thousands of acres of temple lands worth thousands of crores, meant for temple sustenance in perpetuity. This will irreparably cripple Hindu Institutions. While major chunk of temple money is transferred for various political schemes many priests are starving. His Govt. which pays 12,000 Rs/ per pilgrims for Haj trip to Mecca, and considering proposals to pay Christians for trips to Bethelehem, imposed a 50% surcharge on state buses on MahaSivarathri day. Most important Hindu holidays such as Sri Rama Navami are being taken off Govt. holiday list to be replaced with secular holidays.
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Areas surrounding many major Hindu Temples have become centers of intense conversion activity. Endowment Dept. permits huge Christian prayer meeting on temple lands with advertisements in temples.
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Hindus own existence is being threatened in their own homeland. Gandhiji who fought all his life for social justice & religious tolerance was true to Hindu Bhagawad Gita. He called religious conversions by missionaries the deadliest poison that ever sapped the fountain of truth. Selfish politicians like YSR are bent on destroying our thousands of year old Hindu Dharma and culture.
To sum up, the actions of evangelical Christian CM YSR Govt. suggests a well designed plan to decimate Hinduism in AP through destruction of Hindu Institutions and abetting massive illegal conversions. The entire state infrastructure is made available for encouraging these activities.
To undo the damage, Govt. must allow Hindu Advisory Councils - nominated or elected by Hindu religious Leaders and the Community to oversee the Endowment department and the TTD Board, and to provide guidance to Govt. as a first step, till denationalization is realized. This would assure a transparent and accountable management as allowed to other religionists under a democratic secular Constitution .
Â
Readers are requested not to just standby with the hope that nothing will happen to Hindu Dharma. 1000 years of foreign rule has resulted in loss of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Kashmir, four North Eastern States are almost lost and next in line is Andhra Pradesh. Today half million Kashmiri pandits are living as refugees in their own mother land for more than a decade and are dying in large numbers. Please come and join this peaceful protest and show your solidarity in protecting the ancient culture from Government aggression .Â
Endorsed by Hindu Community at large, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue (Christians Against Proselytization), Indian American Intellectuals Forum. Contact: Bharat Barai 219-736-2800, Prasad 630-832-2665, Raj 630-325-1775, Amar 847-226-4929, M Patel 847-376 3672, Satya 732-403-7460, Sri 732-777-1107. For more info visit: http://savetemples.org, http://bharatjagran.com, Email:bharatmat@gmail.com
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Press Release
Chicago: A peaceful protest for highlighting AP Government's gross mismanagement of Hindu temples and to save them from destruction, is scheduled during the visit of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy (YSR), during the reception given by TANA and ATA.
The event will take place in Chicago at Donald Stephens Convention Center (847-692-2220) on Sunday, May 6th, at 4:30PM. Additional information along with (optional) registration details is posted at http://www.savetemples.org/. People needing car pool can send email to bharatmat@gmail.com.
It is a matter of deep concern that India, boasting to be the largest secular democracy and aspiring to be a member of the UN Security Council, denies its own majority community the human right of religious freedom and liberty to manage their places of worship.
The protest is to bring awareness to the alarming situation in Andhra Pradesh (AP) where Hindu temples, Institutions and Hinduism itself are illegally targeted by YSR Government crusade. Under Hindu Temple Endowment act, about 34,000 Temples are under Govt. control. Only 18% of revenue generated is said to be given back for temples purposes, while remaining 82% used for other purposes by Govt. at their discretion. Looting, Massive sale of temple lands, Demolition, Encroachments, aggressive religious conversions in temples vicinity is occurring all over AP. Government which is supposed to be a protector has become a destroyer that threatens the very existence of Hindu Institutions. The World famous Tirupathi temple is specially targeted.Â
YSR belongs to Christian faith and in spite of being elected overwhelmingly by Hindu population of AP, his govt. has been engaging in activities highly detrimental to Hinduism. His Govt. attempted to take over 5 out of 7 Tirumala Hills for Church and Tourism. He is recently alleged to use Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) money for a Hockey tournament in his parents name. AP Govt. appointed vice Chancellor of Padmavathi University funded by TTD has been engaging in rabid conversions and is believed to be cause of death of a Hindu student forced to convert. He plans to reward her with honorary Legislator's position in AP Assembly.
AP Govt. allowed demolition of 10 temples for construction of a golf course. YSR's son blew up a temple in Anantpur and his brother Vivekananda Reddy encroached on Gurukul trust lands worth crores of rupees. While taking extra precautions to protect Churches and Mosques with money from state treasury, Govt. is selling or donating for various Govt. Schemes and non Hindu purposes, tens of thousands of acres of temple lands worth thousands of crores, meant for temple sustenance in perpetuity. This will irreparably cripple Hindu Institutions. While major chunk of temple money is transferred for various political schemes many priests are starving. His Govt. which pays 12,000 Rs/ per pilgrims for Haj trip to Mecca, and considering proposals to pay Christians for trips to Bethelehem, imposed a 50% surcharge on state buses on MahaSivarathri day. Most important Hindu holidays such as Sri Rama Navami are being taken off Govt. holiday list to be replaced with secular holidays.
Â
Areas surrounding many major Hindu Temples have become centers of intense conversion activity. Endowment Dept. permits huge Christian prayer meeting on temple lands with advertisements in temples.
Â
Hindus own existence is being threatened in their own homeland. Gandhiji who fought all his life for social justice & religious tolerance was true to Hindu Bhagawad Gita. He called religious conversions by missionaries the deadliest poison that ever sapped the fountain of truth. Selfish politicians like YSR are bent on destroying our thousands of year old Hindu Dharma and culture.
To sum up, the actions of evangelical Christian CM YSR Govt. suggests a well designed plan to decimate Hinduism in AP through destruction of Hindu Institutions and abetting massive illegal conversions. The entire state infrastructure is made available for encouraging these activities.
To undo the damage, Govt. must allow Hindu Advisory Councils - nominated or elected by Hindu religious Leaders and the Community to oversee the Endowment department and the TTD Board, and to provide guidance to Govt. as a first step, till denationalization is realized. This would assure a transparent and accountable management as allowed to other religionists under a democratic secular Constitution .
Â
Readers are requested not to just standby with the hope that nothing will happen to Hindu Dharma. 1000 years of foreign rule has resulted in loss of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Kashmir, four North Eastern States are almost lost and next in line is Andhra Pradesh. Today half million Kashmiri pandits are living as refugees in their own mother land for more than a decade and are dying in large numbers. Please come and join this peaceful protest and show your solidarity in protecting the ancient culture from Government aggression .Â
Endorsed by Hindu Community at large, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue (Christians Against Proselytization), Indian American Intellectuals Forum. Contact: Bharat Barai 219-736-2800, Prasad 630-832-2665, Raj 630-325-1775, Amar 847-226-4929, M Patel 847-376 3672, Satya 732-403-7460, Sri 732-777-1107. For more info visit: http://savetemples.org, http://bharatjagran.com, Email:bharatmat@gmail.com
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