source: Deccan Chronicle, August 13, 2007

http://www.deccan.com/City/Citynews.asp#Naidu%20temple%20idea%20recoils

Hyderabad, Aug. 13: AP Hindu Temples’ Protection Organisation is up in arms against former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu following his announcement that the temple lands will also be distributed to the poor people, if TD comes back to power in the State. The leaders of the organisation have demanded that the TD chief withdraw his statement since either his party or the government has no right to distribute temple lands to anybody.

"Can Mr Naidu dare to say that he will distribute lands of wakf board and churches to the poor?" asked Mr M. Kamal Kumar, general secretary of the organisation. "We are trying to protect the temple lands since 75,000 acres of land have already been encroached in the State. We will not allow anyone to touch the properties of Hindu temples," he added.

Meanwhile, the association has alleged that the Left parties were grabbing temple properties in Nellore, Khammam, Krishna, West and East Godavari districts as part of its ongoing Bhooporatam.  The association leaders also have decided to organise a padayatra from Basar to Tirumala in September, demanding the government to protect endowment lands since thousands of acres are being encroached in the State. "The padayatra will cover 5,000 temples in 13 districts of Telangana and Rayalaseeema areas," said Mr Kumar.

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