Tirupati laddu row: Jagan Mohan Reddy cancels Tirumala temple visit; TDP calls him “anti-Hindu”

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 27 (ANI): Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday postponed his planned visit to Tirumala for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara, after which the Telugu Desam Party attacked the YSRCP chief and called him “anti-Hindu.”

This comes after the BJP and TDP demanded Jagan Reddy declare his faith before visiting the temple.

Addressing the press conference, the YSRCP chief said that “I am postponing the Tirumala visit. Many questions have been raised about my caste. I read the Bible at home, and I respect and follow Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. I belong to the community of humanity. What does the Constitution say? If a person equivalent to the Chief Minister is not allowed into the temple, I question how Dalits will be treated.”

On being asked if this (Tirupati Laddu Prasadam issue) is a serious blasphemy, he said, “That is exactly what I have been telling. It is worse than that.”

Reddy also accused CM Naidu of “blatantly lying” about the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam, adding that the ghee procurement e-tender is a routine process that has been happening for decades.

“The demon rule is continuing in the state. The government is trying to obstruct my upcoming visit to the Tirumala temple. Police have issued notices to YSRCP leaders across the state regarding the temple visit. The notice states that the visit to the Tirumala temple is not permitted, and the program organised by YSRCP does not have the necessary approval. Consequently, leaders are not allowed to participate in that programme,” Reddy said.

Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy, TDP National Spokesperson, attacked the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister for cancelling his trip to Tirumala.

“By cancelling his trip to Tirumala, Jagan Reddy has once again proved that he is anti-Hindu. The only thing that he had to do to have a darshan of Lord Balaji was to sign a declaration, which has been a rule in TTD for more than three decades. Any person belonging to a religion other than Hindu is supposed to sign a small declaration and he has to take permission from the concerned authority to have a darshan of Lord Balaji. So what problem does Jagan Reddy have in signing this declaration? Even people like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who visited Tirmala as President of this country had signed this declaration because he is a Muslim. Many other eminent leaders in our country have done this… Without having faith and reverence towards Lord Balaji, What will you do by having a darshan of the deity? What kind of drama are you trying to play, Mr Jagan Reddy? On one hand, you say that you’ll have the darshan of Lord Balaji and pray for forgiveness for what had happened. It is an unforgivable sin. Lord Balaji will never forgive you,” Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy said.

TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain said that Jagan Mohan Reddy presented a drama of lies or comedy circus through a press conference today.

“Jagan Mohan Reddy presented a drama of lies or comedy circus through a press conference today and the public knows about it. He said that today demonic rule prevails in the state, the public can tell what demonic rule is by looking at his 5 years of rule. The way he has done drama by deciding to visit Tirupati temple after hurting the faith and belief of Hinduism and then later deciding to cancel it, it shows his mentality that all this is dramabaazi. He should get the harshest punishment for the sin he has committed,” Jain said.

The row over the Tirupati Prasadam began after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the Prasdam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government.