By IANS
Hyderabad : The Andhra Pradesh government has issued an ordinance prohibiting propagation of any religion except Hinduism at the famed Tirupati temple and also declared the seven hills surrounding the temple as a place of worship.
The ordinance also bans the conduct of local body elections in Tirumala hills surrounding the Lord Venkateshwara temple and imposes prohibition.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy made the announcement at a news conference here Friday.
About 50,000 devotees visit Tirupati, India's richest temple, every day and the number crosses 100,000 on special occasions.
The ordinance, signed by Governor Rameswar Thakur May 22, was issued following criticism by Hindu religious heads over propagation of other religions on the Tirumala hills, over 700 km from here.
The ordinance, which makes it clear that all seven hills form part of the temple, sets at rest controversy over the area. Some people were claiming that the jurisdiction of the temple was confined to two hills.
The ordinance also covered 19 other major Hindu temples in the state and prohibited the propagation of other religions in these places.
Reddy said places of worship of other religions would also be covered if specific requests were received by the government.
He said the move was aimed at ensuring that sentiments of religious groups were not hurt and public order at such places of worship was not disturbed. He said a legislation replacing the ordinance would be introduced in the next assembly session.
The state cabinet had in April decided to promulgate the ordinance after taking strong note of evangelical activity around the famous hill shrine.
Anybody found violating the provisions of the ordinance will be sentenced to three years of imprisonment or imposed a fine of Rs.5,000 or both.