TIRUMALA: At a high-level meeting organised at the TTD Annamayya Bhavan on Sunday, top officials of the TTD reviewed the steps being initiated by the management for the promotion of dharma not only at Tirumala and Tirupati, but also in the entire country and expressed satisfaction over the measures.

The meeting also discussed at length the alleged conversion activities of Christian missionaries atop the holy hills. The meeting also endorsed the view that the existing practice of following and promoting the Venkateswara Bhakti cult should be continued in the same vein. The officials of the Dharma Prachara Parishad (DPP), a wing of the TTD, said that it is for the promotion of dharma that the management has enhanced the budget outlay to over Rs. 20 crores a year. The Tirumala-based special officer A.V. Dharma Reddy, who chaired the meeting, briefing the mediapersons said that the TTD management also has resolved to provide a financial aid of Rs. 1 lakh to every student who completes his educational course at the TTD-run S.V. Veda Patasala at Tirumala.

Prominent among those who participated in the meeting include the chief priest of the temple Venkataramana Dikshitulu and other local leaders.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu