Chilkur prays for speedy recovery of priest in US

Hyderabad: Special prayers were performed at Chilkur Balaji Temple today for the speedy recovery of the injured Hindu priest in US, who was attacked near his temple by unknown hooligans.

Hindu priest was attacked while he was walking down the street in his religious garb near a temple in Floral Park, New York.

Swami Harish Chander Puri said that around 11 a.m. (local time) on July 18, near the Shiv Shakti Peeth in Glen Oaks, while he was walking, a man came up from behind and started hitting him, a local news channel reported. Puri said he was beaten so badly, he had to be rushed to the hospital.

The priest suffered bruises and abrasions all over his body.

Some of the people who regularly visit the temple said they believe the priest was targeted. The attacker screamed things like, "this is my neighbourhood," during the incident, they said.

Chilkur Balaji head priest C S Rangarajan said US should be ranked as the most unsafe place for Harmless Religions like Hinduism.

Rangarajan further said that USCIRF, as an independent, bi-partisan commission, advises the President, Congress and the Secretary of State on international religious freedom issues. In its Annual Report, USCIRF unflinchingly describes threats to religious freedom around the world and recommends to the State Department countries for designation as "countries of particular concern" (CPCs) for engaging in or tolerating "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations...,," The report is silent on Conditions on the US... USCIRF also recommends to the State Department that non-state actors cited for similarly severe violations be designated as "entities of particular concern" (EPCs).

Who will certify the US and the security it provides for it's residents belonging to ethnic Religions, asked Rangarajan.

The US Government should now look within itself before advising others, said the Chilkur head priest.