Days after a massive controversy over prasad laddoos at the famous Tirupati Temple, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is set to visit Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala Hills on September 28 to offer prayers. However, spokesperson for Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Prem Kumar Jain, asserted Reddy will perform a forgiveness ritual. The party also said Reddy should sign a declaration, stating he has faith in Lord Balaji, as he is a believer in Christianity.
According to the details, Reddy will offer prayers at the temple, as part of the statewide rituals called by his party, YSRCP, to atone for the ‘sin’ allegedly committed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The ‘sin’ was referred by his party to Naidu’s accusations against Reddy, alleging his government used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making prasad laddoos at the Tirupati Temple.
Commenting on Reddy’s visit, spokesperson for Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Prem Kumar Jain, said, “According to the information, Jagan Mohan Reddy will be coming to Tirumala Temple on September 28 where he will perform a forgiveness ritual. However, the crime of using fish oil and hurting the sentiments of devotees cannot be forgiven.”
Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram, another spokesperson for Naidu’s party, said Reddy would not be allowed to go inside the temple if does not sign a declaration of his faith in Lord Balaji.
“We all know that you are a believer in Christianity, which we don’t have any problem with. However, a person belonging to another religion, whether it be Christianity or Islam, if they intend to have a darshan of Lord Balaji then they have to sign a declaration stating that they have faith in him,” Ram said.
“We respect all religions, but it is a role, it is a custom. So, Jagan Mohan Reddy, you will have to sign the declaration, otherwise you will not be allowed to go inside the temple complex,” he added.
Further, Ram said, “Jagan Mohan Reddy has committed an unforgivable sin so there will be no relief for him. Lord Balaji will not forgive him even if he climbs up the seven hills on his knees. We have released several documents which clearly state that they (Reddy’s party members) have done this deliberately, so there is going to be no forgiveness for him. All these years, you have been going to the temple without signing the declaration.”
In line with the TDP, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also called for Reddy to sign the declaration.
“We are given to understand that Jagan Mohan Reddy intends to visit Tirumala on the 28th of this month. The practice of declaring one’s faith has been in vogue for decades in Tirumala. As per G.O. MS NO- 311 of AP Revenue Endowments–1, Rule no 16, Non Hindus must give a declaration at Vaikuntam que (sic) complex before darshan in the faith form. This is also as per TTD general regulations Rule 136,” Andhra Pradesh BJP chief D Purandeswari said in a post on X.
“BJP demands that even before Jagan Mohan Reddy begins mounting (sic) Tirumala, he should give the declaration of his faith at the Garuda statue itself at Alipiri,” she demanded.
News agency PTI quoted party sources and stated that Reddy is expected to arrive at Tirumala on September 27 and will stay there overnight.
JAGAN MOHAN REDDY’s CALL FOR PUJA
The former Chief Minister has called for the people of the state to participate in temple rituals on September 28, to atone Chandrababu Naidu’s ‘sin’.
In an X post, Reddy wrote, “YSRCP is calling for statewide rituals in temples to sanitise (undo) this sin committed by Chandrababu on Saturday, September 28.”
TIRUPATI LADDOO CONTROVERSY
Reddy’s appeal comes days after Naidu alleged during that the previous YSRCP government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddoos.
Naidu alleged that animal fat was mixed with ghee used to make laddoo prasadam in Tirupati temple with a ‘political motive’.
“Though animal fat adulteration did not occur, he intentionally lied that it happened and falsely propagated that devotees ate them,” he said.
The allegations sparked a massive controversy across the country.
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