Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has canceled his visit to the Tirumala temple. This decision comes in response to growing tensions and threats from certain groups. These groups warned they would disrupt his visit unless he declared his faith before entering the renowned hill shrine. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president made the announcement just hours before he was scheduled to leave for Tirupati for darshan on Saturday.
Allegations of Political Interference
Jagan claimed he faced “devil’s rule” in the state, stating that authorities prevented him from visiting the temple. He revealed that police issued notices to YSRCP leaders, denying permission for his visit and warning against participation. Additionally, he alleged that BJP functionaries from neighboring states were called to Tirupati to block his entry. “I don’t know if the BJP’s central leadership knows this,” he stated.
Criticism of Chief Minister Naidu
Jagan pointed out the deployment of thousands of police officers in Tirupati. He urged YSRCP members and citizens to pray in local temples for “God’s wrath for desecrating Tirumala temple” to be confined to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He accused Naidu of lying about the use of ghee adulterated with animal fat in laddu ‘prasadam’ to distract from his government’s failure to fulfill election promises within 100 days.
The YSRCP chief condemned Naidu for damaging the sanctity of Sri Venkateswara temple and for hurting devotees’ feelings with false allegations regarding the ghee. He reiterated that the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) employs a robust quality control system to prevent adulteration.
Jagan explained that four tankers of ghee that failed tests arrived at TTD after Naidu took office. He emphasized that Naidu knowingly spread the “lie” that adulterated ghee was used in the laddus consumed by devotees. Jagan accused Naidu of using falsehoods for political purposes, thereby desecrating the temple and offending millions of devotees.
He also recalled his father, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who participated in Brahmotsavam and offered sacred clothes to Lord Venkateswara during his term as chief minister. Jagan noted that he visited the Tirumala temple many times before entering politics and mentioned that TTD invited him annually to present offerings after he assumed the role of chief minister.
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