Hindu Temple In India Wants Its Own Township

In the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, there is growing tension between Christians and Hindus over Christian conversionary activities around the Sri Venkateswara temple that attracts over 50,000 visitors per day. Thursday’s Indian Catholic reports that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the administrative board that manages the temple, passed a resolution in July to ask the state government to create a new "religious township" out of the 332-square kilometer area around the temple and place it under temple jurisdiction. This would give the temple a status similar to Vatican City. Also, State Minister for Endowments J.V. Diwakar Reddy said in August that the state government is considering a new law to prohibit propagation of any religion other than Hinduism in Tirumala where the temple is located. Violators would risk to up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to 2,000 rupees (US$43). And TTD is being asked to fire the non-Hindu employees that work at the temple site (several Muslims and 15 to 20 Christians).