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The article delves into a heated controversy surrounding the alleged adulteration of laddoos, a sacred offering, at the Tirumala-Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh. The incident has ignited religious and political tensions, with accusations flying between the current Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, and his predecessor, YSRCP supremo Jagan Reddy. Naidu claims that Reddy orchestrated the use of inferior dairy products to cut costs, thereby compromising the sanctity of the temple's offerings. Reddy, a practicing Christian, vehemently denies these accusations, labeling them a smear campaign.
Beyond the immediate accusations and counter-accusations, the article utilizes the laddoos controversy as a springboard to criticize the broader issue of state control over Hindu temples in India. It argues that the 'nationalization' of Hinduism, where the state assumes administrative and financial control of religious institutions, represents a fundamental violation of the right to religious freedom. This state control, the article asserts, extends beyond the Tirupati temple, encompassing numerous Hindu religious customs and practices, while conspicuously excluding other religious groups.
The article further points out the hypocrisy inherent in the state's involvement in Hindu religious affairs. It highlights how donations from devotees are diverted for secular purposes rather than temple upkeep, effectively depriving Hindus of the right to decide how their contributions are used. In contrast, the state readily permits Muslim donors to dictate the use of their contributions through the Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act of 1955. The article concludes with a call to dismantle the state laws and by-laws that have nationalized Hinduism, urging Hindus to reclaim their religious autonomy and end the practice of state subjugation being masked as secularism.
Source: A Taste of Sacrilege: The Nationalisation of Hinduism Is The Original Sin - News18