Temple staff defer agitation by two months

Hyderabad, October 31: In spite of announcing that they would defer their agitation by a month on Friday, priests and temple staff of eight major temples continued their agitation on Saturday.

They wanted a written assurance from the state government that their problems would be resolved in a month.

However, the state government officials refused to oblige their request.

It may be recalled that the Temple Employees Joint Action Committee representing staff of small temples yesterday announced postponement of the agitation by a month.

The Temple Employees JAC postponed the strike after the endowments officials assured to resolve their demand for pay hike in a month.

But priests and staff of eight major temples including Bhadrachalam, Vijayawada, Srisailam, Yadagirigutta and Vemulawada continued their agitations demanding a written assurance from the state government.

Principal secretary for endowments KV Ramanachary today held second round of talks with the priests and employees of the major temples.

The officials convinced the staff that their demands would be resolved and urged them to withdraw the strike.

After much deliberations, the temple employees declared that they would postpone their agitation by two months.

–Agencies