Sunday, July 31 2005 15:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: After eight years, Shri Venkateswara Balaji Temple in Tividale, the largest in Europe, is almost ready but the temple is now fighting immigration policy to get adequate number of traditionally trained priests.

While the UK Government insists candidates must speak English, the temple authorities feel most will be unable to do so.

Anil Bhanot, General Secretary of the Hindu Council, said Hindus have been caught up in what he believed to be a policy aimed at tackling radical preachers.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett introduced the English language rules 'to ensure priests can speak to and for their congregations,' but the Hindu Council said the move has left many other temples facing similar problems.

Around the complex, built at a cost of 7.5 million pounds, five priests chant Sanskrit mantras as part of intricate and often lengthy rituals in honor of its deities.

But the temple says it needs three more priests.

Most priests started learning the mantras and rituals in India when they were about eight, continuing until they were 15.

Subjects like English were not important, Bhanot said.

"As scholarly pujaris perform only rituals and do not preach, they should be exempt from the tests unless they decide to take a more pastoral role or stay on beyond two years," he said.

The Home Office said "It takes seriously all the concerns of the faith community"after Immigration Minister Tony McNulty met Balaji Temple chairman Dr Narayan Rao to discuss the issue.