The incident of "the Cross" painted on trees at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams managed Sri Venkateswara in... Read More

TIRUPATI: The incident of "the Cross" - the principal symbol of Christianity , painted on trees at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams managed Sri Venkateswara institute of medical sciences super specialty hospital, created flutter in the temple city of Tirupati, prompting the hospital authorities to lodge a police complaint on Thursday.

BJP and VHP activists led by the saffron party's state official spokesperson Samanchi Srinivas reached SVIMS premises and staged protests condemning the incident. Speaking to reporters, BJP functionary Samanchi Srinivas felt painting ''the Cross'' symbols on trees at SVIMS, managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams was an attempt by miscreants to hurt the sentiments of the Hindus. ''SVIMS super specialty hospital has been absorbed by the TTD and the hospital runs with TTD funds. There are even allegations that certain Christian missionaries are resorting to proselytism activities at the hospital by distributing the Bible and other Christian literature", he alleged.

"Such incidents attempted to disturb the communal peace of the temple city cannot be allowed to go on and the police department should crack the whip against those behind the incident", the BJP activists demanded.

Confirming the development to TOI, SVIMS director and Vice chancellor Dr B Vengamma said, two trees at the hospital vicinity were found to have painted with the "the Cross" symbols on Wednesday morning on the New years eve.

"After the incident was brought to my notice, we immediately launched an enquiry and informed about the incident to TTD's chief vigilance and security officer Gopinath Jatti . The vigilance and security wing of the TTD have also launched a probe into the episode. Today we have also lodged a police complaint", added Dr B Vengamma.

SVIMS director squarely denied the accusations of the BJP and the VHP activists and said no acts of proselytism were allowed in the premises of the super specialty hospital. "It is absolutely baseless that Christian missionaries are allowed to distribute Bible in the wards. It is not true at all. There are 20-30 nurses who follow Christianity but that has got nothing to do with the incident", she reiterated.

