Tirupati laddus and temple autonomy on agenda for VHP's apex body meeting tomorrow

New Delhi: The ongoing controversy surrounding Tirupati laddus and the demand to "free" temples from government control are key topics for discussion at the Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) apex body meeting in Andhra Pradesh on Monday.

The day-long gathering of the VHP's Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal will take place in Tirupati city and will also address issues related to religious conversion, according to a senior official from the organisation.

Hindu seers from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other southern states will attend the meeting, which will feature VHP national secretary general Bajrang Bagda and other senior officials.

Bagda stated, "The meeting will focus on the current challenges facing Hindu society and explore potential solutions."

The agenda includes a discussion on the alleged "desecration" of the laddu served at the Tirupati Balaji temple, which has caused significant distress within the Hindu community. The meeting may result in a resolution regarding this issue.

A senior VHP official mentioned that the meeting is also expected to thoroughly discuss the goal of "freeing temples from government control" and devise a strategy to address it. He claimed that over 4,00,000 temples across the country are currently under government oversight, and the VHP has long demanded that the management of these temples be returned to Hindu society.

Additionally, the meeting will address religious conversion and formulate a plan to tackle the issue.

On Friday, the VHP described as "intolerable" the alleged use of animal fat in the Tirupati laddu, and called for the Andhra Pradesh Government to transfer control and management of the temple to the Hindu community.

Bagda had previously called for legal action against those responsible for "desecrating" the Tirupati prasadam.

He stated in a video message, "The Tirupati incident reinforces the VHP's belief that government control over temples invites political interference. The appointment of non-Hindu officials in government-controlled temples leads to the deliberate introduction of impurities into the prasad (consecrated food)." (Agencies)