'Only Hindu Staff In Tirumala, But...': Owaisi Lashes Out At PM Modi Over 'Non-Muslims Clause' For Waqf Board

Owaisi remarked that while the NDA government at the Centre is pushing for the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards, the TTD leadership seeks a homogeneous Hindu workforce.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing out a contrast in religious policies after the newly appointed chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), B.R. Naidu, called for a Hindu-only staff at Tirumala. Owaisi remarked that while the NDA government at the Centre is pushing for the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards, the TTD leadership seeks a homogeneous Hindu workforce.

On X, Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ chairman says that only Hindus should work in Tirumala. But Modi govt wants to make it mandatory for there to be non-Muslims in Waqf Boards & Waqf Council. Most Hindu Endowment laws insist that only Hindus should be its members. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander, no?"

Later, addressing the reporters, Owaisi said, "We are not against this, we just have an objection to the fact that Narendra Modi's government is saying in the proposed bill of Waqf that in the central Waqf Council, it has been made mandatory that 2 non-Muslims members should be there...Why are you bringing this provision in the Waqf bill? TTD is a board of the Hindu religion and Waqf Board is for the Muslim religion. There should be parity...When the trustees of TTD cannot be Muslims, how will a non-Muslim member be on the Waqf Board?..."

 

On October 31, Naidu, who recently assumed the role as TTD Chairman, stated his commitment to ensuring that only Hindus are employed at Tirumala, the sacred shrine of Lord Venkateswara. “Everyone who works at Tirumala should be Hindu. That would be my first effort,” Naidu said, adding that he intends to consult with the Andhra Pradesh government on how to address the situation of non-Hindu staff, exploring options like transferring them to other departments or offering them Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).

The Andhra Pradesh government recently reconstituted the TTD Board, appointing Naidu as Chairman and including prominent figures like Bharat Biotech co-founder Suchitra Ella among its 24 members.