Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said his successor, Chandrababu Naidu, was spreading sinister lies by saying animal fat was used in the laddoos at Tirupati temple.
“(Claiming) Animal fat was used in laddus is a sinister lie (spread) by Chief Minister Naidu,” Reddy told reporters. He had earlier scheduled a visit to the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala Hills on Saturday which he cancelled citing security reasons.
The development comes amid the massive laddoo controversy at Tirupati.
Reddy said Naidu was spreading lies because he wanted to shift the focus from the ‘his misgovernance in the past 100 days’. “This is all diversionary tactics. The importance of Tirupati is known worldwide… Protecting its sanctity has been the focus in my regime,” he said.
“The entire country, the state, knows my religion. My late father became the chief minister twice and he always took blessings of Lord Balaji. I read the Bible, I respect Hindu religion, traditions and rituals. I also respect Islam and Sikhism. My religion is humanity, write that in the declaration,” he said.
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) chief had said he would visit the temple as part of the statewide temple rituals called for by the party to atone for the ‘sin’ allegedly committed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu through his allegations on Tirupati laddus.
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.
However, referring to the demands made by the ruling NDA that he declare his faith before entering the hill shire, he said that one should ‘look at the manner in which people are asking me about my religion to enter the temple’.
“I watch the TV and I am surprised that BJP leaders from other states are targeting me. I am surprised that leaders from other states are trying to stop me from visiting,” the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister said.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) took to social media to respond the Jagan’s remarks.
“Who stopped? According to the law, I have to sign that I believe that Swami is the one, if you don’t want to do that, then go away.. Who told you not to sign?” the TDP questioned in a social media post on X.
Counter-Accusations
Claiming to have set up a ‘robust system’, the YSRCP chief said the ‘best ingredients were used’ for the prasadam.
The Naidu government has accused the former YSRCP government of using low quality material for the prasad. The allegations then sparked a massive controversy across the country.
But on Friday, Reddy accused the Naidu government of using low-grade material for the laddoos.
“During the Chandrababu Naidu regime, from 2014 to 2019, nearly 14 to 15 times, the ghee was rejected due to quality issues. There is a robust process. Similarly from 2019 to 2024, 18 times it was rejected and sent back. Whatever I am saying are all facts,” the former Andhra chief minister said.
“Why did Naidu procure ghee of cheap quality during his tenure at 270/-” Reddy asked.
Cancelled Temple Run
On Friday, ahead of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s planned visit, the district police issued notice to several leaders and cadre of his party, YSRCP, warning them to not defy Section 30 of the Police Act which is in force.
The police were forced to issue notices to the YSRCP leaders at several places in the district as messages are being spread on social media platforms asking the party cadre to gather at some locations in Tirupati in a show of solidarity with the former chief minister, news agency PTI reported.
Soon after Reddy had announced his visit to Tirumala, the ruling NDA demanded that the former Chief Minister should declare his faith before entering the hill shrine.
He said he visited the temple 11 times and also before he became chief minister. “Back then they never asked me about my religion. And now you are slapping me with this notice to prove my allegiance?” he said.
According to rules, foreigners and non-Hindus should declare their reverence for Lord Venkateswara to have a darshan of the presiding deity at the hill shrine, PTI quoted a former bureaucrat as saying.
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