Rayalaseema Rashtra Samiti president Kuncham Venkatasubba Reddy on Wednesday demanded amendments to A.P. Hindu Religions, Charitable Institutions and Endowments Act and form an autonomous Hindu Dharmika Parishad by invoking the provisions of Section 152 of the Act.
In a letter addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee, Mr. Venkatasubba Reddy said the Parliament should amend the State laws and bring the State Endowment Commissioner under the control of Dharmika Parishad.
The Chilkur Balaji temple in Ranga Reddy district, Sri Rama temple at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district and the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams at Tirumala must function under the administrative control of the Dharmika Parishad as per G.O. No.260, he said.
Act 30/87 was a replica of Tamil Nadu Endowments Act, enacted by the atheistic DMK party and people of the State were separated from temples by the State till the amended Act 33/2007 came into being 21 years later, the RRS president said. When Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956, the people of Telangana region were assured that their system of worship in Hindu temples and managements would not be disturbed, he recalled.
However in 1987, the promise was relegated to the background and did not figure in the Challa Kondaiah Commission report, which also made no mention of the salient features of Hyderabad Endowments Act, whereas C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer Commission appreciated it, Mr. Reddy said. He demanded amendment to Act 30/87 as amended under Act 33 of 2007 and a Central Act applicable to both the States akin to the Wakf Act in the State.
The 30/87 Endowments legislation harmed the interests of people of Telangana and Andhra regions and should be repealed and a new legislation enacted to form a Dharmika Parishad. He also forwarded a copy of the letter to the Chief Secretary.