The ruling TDP has slammed former Chief Minister YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's plan to visit the Tirupati Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple, stating his crime of using fish oil and hurting the sentiments of devotees will not be forgiven. The YSRCP announced on Wednesday that Jagan will arrive at Tirumala on September 27 and stay there overnight.
The party also called on people to attend in temple rituals (pooja) across Andhra Pradesh on September 28 to atone for the sin allegedly committed by Chief Minister Naidu through his allegations on Tirupati laddus. "YSRCP is calling for statewide rituals in temples to sanitise (undo) this sin committed by Chandrababu on Saturday, September 28," Jagan said in a post on X.
However, Jagan's visit triggered another controversy with BJP demanding him that he declare his faith before entering the temple. "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.'
TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain too slammed Jagan, calling his visit a pretence. "The crime of using fish oil and hurting the sentiments of devotees- this cannot be forgiven. Will he fill out the SIC form and then express his devotion at Tirumala temple? He is doing all this as pretence," Jain added.
Case against A R Dairy
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD has lodged a police complaint against Tamil Nadu-based AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd on the issue of allegedly supplying adulterated ghee. A case was filed by procurement general manager Murali Krishna at Tirupati East police station that A R Dairy allegedly violated the temple body's rules by 'supplying adulterated ghee'.
Police said the complaint will be transferred to the Special Investigation Team on Thursday. The SIT was formed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to probe the laddu adulteration case recently.