YSRC president and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is set to visit the sacred Tirumala temple on Friday to offer prayers at the Lord Venkateswara shrine the following morning. This visit comes amidst a series of rituals organized by his party across temples in Andhra Pradesh, following the YSRC’s recent electoral defeat. The rituals are being conducted to atone for what the YSRC claims as a “sin” committed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of falsely alleging that adulterated ghee was used in the famous Tirumala Srivari Laddus during the YSRC government’s tenure.
However, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit has sparked controversy due to the ongoing laddu row, with opposition parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Jana Sena, and BJP, demanding that the former CM sign a faith declaration, affirming his belief in Lord Venkateswara before entering the temple. These parties argue that the TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) guidelines require non-Hindu visitors to submit a signed declaration of faith before entering the temple.
TD spokesperson Anam Venkataramana Reddy criticized the temple authorities for not enforcing the declaration rule during Jagan’s earlier visits as Chief Minister. “Temple authorities have shown favoritism due to Jagan Mohan Reddy’s political influence. Now, he should declare his faith in Lord Venkateswara before entering the temple,” he said.
According to the AP Revenue Endowments Act (GO MS 311), non-Hindus are required to submit a faith declaration at the Vaikuntam queue complex before entering the temple. The TTD General Rules (Rules 136 and 137) also mandate non-Hindus to disclose their religion and sign the declaration prior to gaining access to the temple.
Jana Sena’s Tirupati constituency in-charge, Kiran Rayal, warned that they would obstruct Jagan’s visit if he did not sign the declaration. BJP state spokesperson Bhanu Prakash echoed similar sentiments, threatening to block Jagan Mohan Reddy’s entry into the temple. The Sanatana Dharma Protection Joint Action Committee (SDPJAC) also challenged the former CM, urging him to demonstrate his faith by offering a tonsure with his wife, Bharathi, as a sign of devotion.
With tensions rising, all eyes are on Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to see how he will address these demands and controversies surrounding his faith and the Tirumala temple.
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