Hyderabad: With Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) which manages Andhra Pradesh’s famous Hindu temple initiating disciplinary action against 18 employees who are following non-Hindu religious traditions and customs, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi questioned discrimination against Waqf.
He also asked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu why his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supported Waqf Amendment Bill in the Joint Working Committee.
The Hyderabad MP was reacting to the report that TTD initiated action against its employees who were found practising non-Hindu traditions and customs.
“It is being reported that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has identified 18 employees that are not following Hindu traditions or are non-Hindu. TTD argues that since it is a Hindu institution, non-Hindus shouldn’t be employed by it. We have no objection to it,” Owaisi posted on ‘X’.
He, however, asked Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu to explain why his party supported BJP’s Waqf Bill in the Joint Working Committee.
“The Bill mandates a minimum of two non-Muslims in Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Board. The Bill also removes the requirement that the Council and the Board should have a majority of Muslims,” the AIMIM chief added.
Owaisi also questioned the discrimination against Waqf while comparing the Waqf Amendment Bill with the Hindu Endowments Act of Andhra Pradesh.
“Take a look at the AP Hindu Endowments Act: a Trustee cannot be a non-Hindu; no Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner, etc. can be a non-Hindu; even the inspector under Section 12 cannot be a non-Hindu. The Act under Section 96 says the same thing about TTD. Now what is the Waqf Bill doing? -Non-Muslims cannot dedicate waqf -but at least two members of Muslim CWC and Muslim Waqf Boards should be non-Muslim -A majority of CWC or Waqf Boards can be non-Muslim -Earlier these members were elected, they will now be nominated by the govt, and the govt is very capable of having a non-Muslim majority CWC/Board. Why such hatred against democratic elections? If only Hindus should govern Hindu Endowments, and only Hindus should be employees. Then why this discrimination against Muslim Waqfs?” he asked.
Asaduddin Owaisi called it hypocrisy in broad daylight. He cited the relevant sections of the AP Hindu Endowments Act. “Now TTD doesn’t even want non-Hindu employees. But Waqf should not only compulsorily have non-Muslims, but they can be the majority of members!” he added.
