After national uproar over Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, BJP-led Center finally backs down and renews TTD’s FCRA license
Posted Date – Tue, 3/28/23 at 11:45pm
Hyderabad: After the nationwide uproar over Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) being fined Rs 30 lakh for allegedly violating the norms of the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act (FCRA), the BJP-led center has finally softened and renewed TTD’s FCRA license.
The renewed certificate is valid for five years, effective January 1, 2020. Temple management can now receive foreign donations in its designated account with the State Bank of India, the FCRA unit under the Home Ministry said in a letter administered by TTD on Tuesday.
There was widespread nationwide outrage after TTD was forced to pay a fine of Rs 3 crore by the federal home ministry alleging that the temple violated FCRA norms.
Initially, the Ministry of Home Affairs imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on TTD management. After a series of meetings between FCRA officials and TTD authorities, the fine was reportedly cut to Rs 30 lakh, which was paid by the temple management.
Interestingly, TTD management has submitted an application on 12 July 2019 seeking to renew its registration under the FCRA. Although the FCRA unit of the Ministry of Home Affairs has renewed the TTD license, it said it expects the TTD management to provide the Center with detailed information on the amount and use of each foreign donation received.
TTD management has always argued that details of donors’ voluntary donations at temple hundi are not kept. TTD management has been applying for an exemption in this regard since 2019, but the center has not responded.
