TIRUPATI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and the Tirupati district police wing are on tenterhooks with the back-to-back visits of former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, deputy chief minister and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan, and chief minister and TDP supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu to Tirumala over the next ten days amidst the ongoing laddu-ghee adulteration row.
With accusations and counter-accusations flying thick and fast between the NDA alliance parties and the YSRCP, which are engaged in a fierce political slugfest over the laddu-ghee adulteration row at the Tirumala temple for more than a week now, the episode has caused extreme heartburn among millions of devotees of Lord Venkateswara Swamy worldwide.The three topmost political leaders in AP politics are queuing up to Tirumala, starting with the former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to Tirumala on September 27-28.
After the YSRCP announced Jagan’s tentative Tirumala visit dates, the NDA alliance parties, including the TDP, BJP, and the Jana Sena, have also raked up the “declaration for non-Hindus” clause and have been pressing for the TTD administration to enforce the rule during the former chief minister’s visit to Tirumala.
In addition to the NDA alliance parties, various pro-Hindu outfits have also opposed Jagan’s visit to Tirumala, squarely blaming the erstwhile YSRCP regime as responsible for using ghee adulterated with animal fats in the preparation of Tirupati Laddus.
On the other hand, deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, who embarked on a Prayaschitha Deeksha (atonement for a sin), is scheduled to visit Tirumala on Oct 1-2.
Following the visits of Jagan and Pawan, chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to visit Tirumala on the first day of Srivari annual Brahmotsavams to present Pattu Vastrams (silk robes) to Lord Venkateswara as per the customary practice on Oct 4.
Amidst heightened political tensions between the ruling and opposition parties over the laddu-ghee adulteration row, Tirupati police on Thursday announced the enforcement of section 30 of the police Act from Sept 25 till Oct 24 as a precautionary measure.
Tirupati SP L Subba Rayudu stated that necessary permissions will have to be obtained from the police department for any congregations, rallies, processions, public meetings, etc., proposed to be held in the next one month.