Watch: How Andhra Pradesh Government Is Reclaiming Temple Lands

Temples in Andhra own more than 3 lakh acres of fertile lands.  However, the temples and their properties are controlled by the government.

Temple lands are typically leased to private cultivators.

The AP government has now stated that non Hindus cannot cultivate land owned by temples.

Earlier, AP had prohibited temple lands from being sold or given on long term lease to individuals or corporates.

Further, when temple lands are acquired by government they will be compensated with lands of same value.

The government believes these moves will prevent temple lands from being easy acquisition targets for bureaucrats.

Hopefully, the next step will be government gradually giving up control over temples.

After all, that is the spirit of a secular state.