Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has taken a firm stand on a long-debated issue—ensuring that only Hindus are employed at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.

During his recent visit to the temple, Naidu declared that non-Hindus working at the shrine would be relocated to other positions without disrespecting their sentiments. His statement aligns with a move made last month by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which issued notices to 18 non-Hindu employees, barring them from temple duties and rituals.

This decision follows pressure from the BJP and right-wing organizations, who have long argued that non-Hindus should not be employed in temple services. The issue has been a point of contention for over a decade, with claims that hundreds of non-Hindus might be working at TTD-run institutions.

The TTD board was recently restructured after the TDP-BJP-JanaSena alliance ousted the previous government. With Naidu's endorsement, the push for a Hindu-only workforce at the world-famous temple is gaining momentum, signaling a significant policy shift in temple administration.