Ahead of the annual religious event of Tirumala Srivari Brahmotsavam in Andhra, the Hindu Chaitanya Samithi (HCS) has reportedly demanded that a coinciding gospel meeting by Christian missionaries be halted.

HCS president Tumma Omkar addressed the media in Tirupati on Monday and alleged that the missionaries were organizing the event to deliberately coincide with the Brahmotsavam.

“This has happened in the previous years too. This year, they have decided to hold the meetings in a four-acre area near Cotton Mill from October 6-9 and arrangements are going on. Our only question is why would they conduct their meetings during the annual Brahmotsavams, year after year?” The Hindu quotes him as saying.

The report goes on to add that Omkar also said:

“Right from demolition of temples near the capital city to the conduct of such events, the government has remained a mute spectator. If not elsewhere, it is necessary to protect the sanctity of Tirupati and Tirumala. There are transit points to Tirumala, which are a few yards away from the programme organised by the missionaries.”

There were also demands for closure of meat shops and liquor outlets in areas in and around the city.

Earlier in the week, Andhra Director General of Police N. Sambasiva Rao visited the Tirupati command and control centre to review the security arrangements for the event.

Srivari Brahmotsavam is one of the biggest annual events that is organized by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) and is held for nine days.

The presiding deity Lord Venkateswara is also carried around in a procession around the temple streets during the festivities. 

The fete attracts a huge influx of pilgrims from across the country.