NEW DELHI: Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday hit out at CM Chandrababu Naidu and stated “demons are ruling” the state as he cancelled his go to to Tirumala temple. He stated he had “by no means seen political events creating hurdles even to go to a temple”.
Reddy cancelled his scheduled go to to Tirumala temple on September 28 amid the adulterated Tirupati laddus row over safety considerations and demand for ‘declaration of religion’.
Claiming that Reddy was a believer of Christianity, TDP had demanded that Jagan Reddy should declare his religion earlier than the temple go to.
TDP’s allies BJP and Jana Sena additionally insisted that Reddy declare his religion earlier than getting into the Sri Venkateswara temple.
Rule 136 of the temple board’s tips states that solely Hindus are allowed to go for darshan. Non-Hindus who want to have darshan of Lord Venkateswara must inform the TTD Board about their faith and must declare the identical in a type as per their conscience solely as talked about in Rule 137.
Amid the warmth, Reddy lastly cancelled his go to which was meant to atone for the “sin” allegedly dedicated by CM Naidu who claimed that animal fats was used within the laddus, a part of temple prasadam.
“Many questions have been raised about my caste. I learn the Bible at house, and I respect and comply with Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. I belong to the neighborhood of humanity. What does the Structure say? If an individual equal to the chief minister isn’t allowed into the temple, I query how Dalits can be handled,” he stated.
This isn’t the primary time Reddy’s faith has change into a flashpoint in Andhra Pradesh politics. His opponents have repeatedly used his Christian religion to painting him as ‘anti-Hindu’. That is additionally not the primary time Reddy has overtly disclosed that he follows Christianity and reads the Bible.
In 2019, after an excellent victory within the Lok Sabha elections, as he was requested about Congress and his exit and if he felt vindicated after the outcomes, he stated, “I pray and skim my Bible. It’s for God to determine.”
Throughout his entire tenure as chief minister, he was beneath fixed assault by the opposition as they blamed him for the desecration of temples in Andhra Pradesh and conversions.
He was additionally attacked for a number of selections for the Christian neighborhood within the state. The Reddy authorities hiked monetary assist to Christian pilgrims visiting Jerusalem in Israel and different Biblical locations. The state-sponsored tour interval of the Biblical locations was additionally enhanced from eight to 10 days.
In August 2019, Reddy’s journey to Jerusalem which was “purely private and the expenditure shall be borne by the dignitary” was additionally criticised by the opposition after the Andhra Pradesh authorities spent Rs 22.5 lakh on it. His authorities, nonetheless, dismissed the costs stating the price was in direction of safety preparations.
Throughout this time, Naidu’s occasion, which had until now stayed away from communal remarks, additionally began focusing on the Reddy authorities over temple vandalism incidents and for pushing English medium faculty training as a “ploy to unfold Christianity” within the state.
Amid large debate over his non secular religion, Reddy’s uncle YV Subba Reddy additionally took over because the fiftieth chairman of Tirumala belief board in June, 2019.
Jagan Reddy, who has visited the hill shrine a number of occasions, has at all times discovered himself in the course of the “declare your religion” marketing campaign.
In September 2020, when as CM he visited Tirupati temple, TDP and BJP renewed their demand that he ought to signal the declaration.
Including to the gas, the temple belief chairman had acknowledged at the moment that the declaration was not wanted for the temple entry of the non-Hindus.
Now in 2024, simply months after the tables have been turned in favor of Chandrababu Naidu and Reddy misplaced energy in Andhra Pradesh, the brand new CM has attacked the Reddy authorities by alleging that it allowed the usage of animal fats in Tirupati laddus and harm the feelings of Hindus throughout the nation.
And as soon as once more, the “declare your religion” assault has come again to hang-out Reddy.
