Christian Body demands Religious Freedom in Andra Pradesh, Holds Public Rally

Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), a powerful Christian advocacy body demands religious freedom to prevail in Andra Pradesh; it is holding a public rally today for the scrapping of state’s ordinance that prohibits propagation of other religions in places of worship in the state.

In this regard GCIC will hold a public rally today at Chittoor led by GCIC President Dr Sajan K George and Regional Andhra Pradhesh Co–ordinator Mr. C. Lion Francis. Tens of thousands of Christians in Chittoor area are expected to attend the rally.

On May 22, 2007 , the Government of Andhra Pradesh promulgated the Ordinance 3 of 2007 called "the Andhra Pradesh Propagation of Other Religions in the places of Worship or Prayer (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2007."

This empowered the State to prohibit propagation of religion in places of worship or prayer other than the religion traditionally practised at such place.

G.O. Ms. No: 746 of Revenue (Endowment III) Department dated 02–06–2007 was issued according a special status and dispensation to Tirumala changing its nomenclature to Tirumala Divya Kshetram (TDK) and another G.O. Ms. No: 747 of Revenue (Endowment III) Department dated 02–06–2007 was issued notifying some Hindu temples for prohibiting propagation of other religions.

The places of worship and prayer where the propagation of other religions is banned by the notification include the Tirumala Divya Kshetram (TDK), all the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and temples in Tirupati city, and nineteen other major temple towns located all over A.P.

Still worse, under Government Order No. 747, the A.P. Government has included in the ban more Hindu temple towns along with the Tirumala Divya Kshetram. This notified places of worship for prohibiting propagation of other religions under Section 2(2) of the above mentioned Ordinance are TDK, ten Theerthams lying in TTD limits, another ten temples mentioned in the first schedule of A.P.

Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowment Act of 1987 which again come under the jurisdiction of TTD and are located in the city limits of Tirupati, and another nineteen Devasthanams situated in the various parts of A.P.

Dr. Sajan George had demanded the withdrawal of this draconian Government Order as the present moves of the A.P. Government go against many of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and discriminate against the non–Hindus. Not only their religious freedom, also right to movement, right to life and livelihood would be denied to the non–Hindus especially to the Christians who are already targeted in these areas.