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BJP leaders led by former TTD board member G Bhanu Prakash Reddy meet TTD EO J Syamala Rao in Tirupati on Thursday

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.

At least 36 people have been killed, and 80 others injured in six days of violent clashes between two warring tribes in Pakistan’s restive Kurram district, police reported on Thursday.
The fighting erupted over a land dispute, despite efforts by the government and tribal elders to quell tensions. The region, located along the Afghan border, has long been plagued by violence, sectarian tensions, and militant activities.
“So far, 36 people have been killed and 80 others injured in clashes during the last six days,” police confirmed.
Locals, however, claim the casualty figures are much higher.
The conflict has escalated across areas such as Balishkhel, Sadda, Khar Kallay, Peewar, and Maqbal, regions near Afghanistan’s Khost, Paktia, Logar, and Nangarhar provinces, strongholds for ISIS and the Pakistan Taliban.
The violence follows a similar incident in July, where clashes between the Boshehra and Maleekhel tribes in the same region left 50 dead and over 225 injured.
Despite intervention from a jirga (tribal council), which includes both tribal elders and government officials, there has been little success in containing the clashes. Fresh exchanges of heavy gunfire on Thursday claimed six more lives and injured ten others.
Both sides have continued to fire at each other using a variety of weapons, including both small and large arms, police said. The intensity of the fighting has forced the closure of the Parachinar-Peshawar main road and the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border, disrupting vital transportation links.
The road blockade has led to severe shortages of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medicine, exacerbating the difficulties for local residents. All schools, both public and private, in the affected areas, including Parachinar City, have remained closed for six consecutive days.
Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud said ongoing efforts are being made to secure a ceasefire. “The district administration, police, military leadership, and tribal elders are working together to bring peace to the region,” he said, adding that Jirga members had been dispatched to different areas to engage with stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Kurram Bar Association has moved a local court, citing the frequent tribal clashes and widespread lawlessness, which they claim have made everyday life unbearable for ordinary people in the region.
Kurram district, a mountainous area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, shares a long border with Afghanistan and has a history of violent tribal and sectarian conflicts, as well as militant attacks.
In July, similar tribal clashes turned into sectarian violence, spreading to areas including Peewar, Tangi, Balishkhel, Khaar Kalay, and Karman, before ending with a peace agreement brokered by Jirga leaders.
Read this also: 36 people killed, 162 injured in deadly tribal conflict in Pakistan’s northwest district

NEW DELHI: As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) distanced itself from Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut over her statement on repealed farm laws, ally Chirag Paswan came out in her defense and said that”she will understand these things soon”.
Talking to reporters, Paswan also said, “I am not upset with Kangana but she isn’t just an artist now but also a member of a political party.I accept the fact that you might have your own personal opinion but when you are part of a political party, it becomes your responsibility to put forward the topics of that party.”
“She is new to politics, she is taking time to understand things but she is intelligent and she will understand these things soon,” Paswan said.

His remarks day after Ranaut released a video backtracking from her earlier demand to bring back the three farm laws repealed in 2021.
Ranaut said her “personal” views do not represent the BJP’s stance on the matter even as the Congress demanded her expulsion from the saffron party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s explanation over the issue.
“In the past few days, media questioned me on farm laws and I suggested that farmers should appeal to the Prime Minister to bring back the farm laws.Due to my statement, a lot of people were upset. When the farmers’ laws were proposed…many people supported it. But with the utmost sensitivity and sympathy…our PM rolled back the laws,” Kangana said in a video she posted on X.
Kangana said it is the “duty of every member (of the BJP) to uphold the dignity of his (PM Modi’s) words”.
“I also need to mindful that I am not a actor but a BJP member and that my opinions shouldn’t be mine but party’s stand. If I have disappointed anyone with my words or opinion, I apologise. I take my words back,” Kangana further said.

Her apoligy came after BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia distanced the party from her comments.
Bhatia said the BJP has not authorised Ranaut to make any such statement and nor does her stand reflect the party’s views.
BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said Ranaut’s “consistent, baseless and illogical rant” against farmers and Sikh community has a “damaging impact” on all the good work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of “Punjab, punjabi and punjabiyat”.
The prime minister’s bond with the farmers and Punjab cannot be and must not be judged through the lens of one MP’s “irresponsible comments”, Shergill said on X.
The Himachal Pradesh BJP has also distanced itself from Ranaut’s statement.
The Congress also hit out BJP over the issue, with leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi saying PM Modi must clarify whether he is opposed to Ranaut’s comments or “up to some mischief”.
The opposition party said the BJP must expel Ranaut if it does not agree with her statements.
In a video statement, Gandhi said, “Those associated with the BJP keep testing ideas. They ask someone to voice an idea among people and then they see the reaction. This is what has happened. One of their MPs has talked about reviving the three black farm laws. Modiji, you must clarify whether you are against this or you are again up to some mischief.”
“Will the three farm laws be revived or not? If you do so, I guarantee you that the INDIA bloc will together stand against it. Seven hundred people were martyred, they must be remembered and respected,” Rahul said.
“Modiji had not allowed a two-minute silence for them (those who died during the year-long anti-farm laws protest). We will never forget this,” he said.
In a post in Hindi on X along with his video, he asked, “Who is deciding the government’s policy? A BJP MP or Prime Minister Modi?”
“Even after the martyrdom of more than 700 farmers, especially the farmers of Haryana and Punjab, the BJP people are not satisfied. INDIA will not allow any conspiracy of the BJP against our farmers to succeed — if any step is taken to harm the farmers, Modiji will have to apologise again,” he added.
In a post on X, Mallikarjun Kharge said: “Even after the martyrdom of 750 farmers, the anti-farmer BJP and Modi government did not realise their grave crime! There is talk of re-implementation of the three black anti-farmer laws. The Congress Party strongly opposes this.”
The Congress president said the farmers will not forget that their colleagues were crushed under a vehicle and the government used barbed-wire fences, teargas shells from drones, nails and guns to quell their protest against the three contentious laws.
“This time, poll-bound states, including Haryana, will give a befitting reply to insulting remarks, calling farmers ‘andolanjeevi’ and ‘parasites’, hurled by the Prime Minister himself in Parliament,” Kharge said in his post in Hindi.
“Due to Modiji’s statements, his ministers, MPs and propaganda machinery have become habituated to insulting farmers,” he alleged.