'Waqf Board Is Real Estate Company, Tirumala A Hindu Temple': TTD Chairman Rebukes Owaisi's Comparison

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman B R Naidu has called Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's statement comparing Waqf Board to TTD as 'baseless and useless.'

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said earlier that when TTD does not allow non-Hindus as members then why does the Waqf Board need to have non-Muslims, as recommended in the proposed Bill?

Responding to this, Naidu said on Monday (4 November), "The Waqf Board is a real estate company, that deals with disputes of properties. How can he compare it with Tirumala?"

Asserting that Tirumala is a Hindu temple and there have been demands for many years that non-Hindus should not be in Tirumala, he said, "It is not my personal (opinion)."

"Sanatana Dharma says only Hindus should be there (in TTD). We are working on it and will decide in the first board meeting. Then we will see, what will happen," Naidu added.

This comes after Owaisi questioned, "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?"

The Opposition MPs in the Joint Parliamentary Committee for Waqf (Amendment) Bill have been continuously opposing the working of the panel alleging unilateral decisions by chairperson Jagdambika Pal.