Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy canceled his planned visit to the Tirumala temple on Friday, September 27, 2024, following mounting pressure from various political leaders and spiritual organizations. The row primarily stems from demands that Reddy, a Christian, sign the mandatory faith declaration required for non-Hindu visitors to the temple. This form is meant to ensure respect for the temple’s traditions and the presiding deity, Lord Venkateswara.
Jagan’s decision to cancel the visit has calmed tensions in Tirumala, where concerns had been growing over protests from Hindu groups. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and local police breathed a sigh of relief as fears of a potential clash between YSRCP supporters and Hindu devotees subsided.
However, the cancellation has triggered a political battle between Jagan Mohan Reddy and current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu accused Reddy of spreading false claims that his government obstructed the visit. “There were no notices issued to prevent his visit,” Naidu stated, challenging Reddy to show any official documents proving the cancellation was politically motivated. He went on to criticize Reddy’s alleged disrespect for the temple’s traditions, pointing out that all public figures must follow religious protocols when visiting sacred sites.
The controversy deepened after Naidu reignited the “laddu row,” alleging that substandard ghee and even animal fat had been used in the famous Tirumala laddoos during Reddy’s tenure. Naidu accused Reddy of hurting Hindu sentiments, while protests have already been organized by Hindu groups concerned about the quality of the prasadam (holy offering).
In his defense, Jagan Mohan Reddy called Naidu’s claims an attempt to distract from his own governance failures, particularly in his first 100 days of rule. Reddy insisted that the laddu allegations were baseless and that his religion is well-known to all, arguing that he has made numerous visits to Tirumala in the past without signing the declaration.
With political tensions running high in Andhra Pradesh, the canceled visit and the “laddu row” have become yet another flashpoint between the ruling TDP and the opposition YSRCP. While both sides are locked in a war of words, the temple town of Tirumala remains peaceful for now, but the issue is far from resolved.
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