TIRUPATI: While the laddu ghee adulteration with animal fats controversy continues to rock the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the Tirupati trust faces yet another litmus test. The ruling NDA alliance parties and the YSRCP appear to be heading for a showdown over the “Declaration for non-Hindus” clause, with the NDA alliance partners urging the TTD to enforce the clause in letter and spirit during former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy‘s Tirumala temple visit scheduled for September 28.
After the NDA govt accused the erstwhile YSRCP govt of allegedly using ghee adulterated with animal fats in the preparation of the sacred Srivari Laddu prasadams, the allegations sent shockwaves among the devotees of Lord Venkateswara Swamy worldwide. Curtains were temporarily brought down on the issue after the TTD performed Shanti Homam and Samprokshanam based on the advice of the state govt as well as the Agama experts.
However, the YSRCP leaders, including the former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP and two-time former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy, and Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, have vehemently dismissed the ruling party accusations as baseless and unfounded. They had even filed multiple petitions in the Andhra Pradesh high court as well as the Supreme Court, seeking either a CBI probe or a court-monitored judicial probe.
On the other hand, the YSRCP is gearing up for a statewide protest at all temples across the state to atone for the sin allegedly committed by chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu through his unfounded allegations over the sacred Tirupati Laddus. Amidst reports that as part of the statewide protests, Jagan is scheduled to visit the Tirumala temple on September 27-28, the NDA alliance partners have demanded the former CM to declare his faith before embarking on his Tirumala temple visit.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Daggubati Purandeswari stated, “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 several decades in Tirumala. As per G.O MS No.311 of the AP revenue endowments -1, Rule No.16, non-Hindus must give a declaration at Vaikuntam Q complex before darshan in the faith form. This is also as per TTD general regulation rules 136,” the AP BJP chief underlined.
The BJP further insisted that even before Jagan Mohan Reddy begins mounting Tirumala, he should give the declaration of his faith at the Garuda statue itself at Alipiri. Earlier, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu also echoed the same views when he questioned the former CM as to why he refused to sign the mandatory declaration for non-Hindus during his previous visits to the Tirumala temple.
Naidu recalled that AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi and former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam visited the Tirumala temple in the past only after signing the declaration for non-Hindus, duly respecting and complying with the temple guidelines. “Jagan can definitely visit the Tirumala temple, but he has to respect and adhere to the temple guidelines, which have been in vogue for a very long time,” the AP CM stated.
Meanwhile, a contingent of BJP activists led by former TTD board member G Bhanu Prakash Reddy met TTD EO J Syamala Rao at the latter’s office at the administrative building in Tirupati and handed over a representation, urging the TTD to enforce the declaration for non-Hindus during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to the Tirumala temple on June 28.
Meanwhile, Tirupati YSRCP MP Dr M Gurumoorthy dismissed the demand of the NDA alliance parties and told TOI that Jagan Mohan Reddy had signed the declaration of faith form during his visit to the Tirumala temple in 2009 itself. “There is no need for Jagan to sign the declaration form during every visit of his to the Tirumala temple as he has already expressed his faith in Lord Venkateswara Swamy in the past. After becoming the chief minister of the state, Jagan had even presented Pattu Vastrams to the presiding deity multiple times. The TDP and other political parties are defaming the sacred Tirumala temple by trying to misuse the temple guidelines and norms,” Gurumoorthy lamented.