Hindu Pilgrims Travelling To Tirupati Greeted With Andhra Govt’s Hajj, Jerusalem Tour Ads On Bus Tickets

Pilgrims travelling to Tirupati have shared photographs of Hajj and Jerusalem advertisements on Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) bus tickets, The News Minute has reported.

Hajj is an annual pilgrimage taken by Muslims to Mecca and Jerusalem is a prominent religious spot for Christians, Muslims and Jews.

This advertisement selling a “holy Jerusalem tour” for Christians was published by the Andhra state minority department. As per the advertisement, the tour was available at just half the price. Another ticket sorted an advertisement about the annual Hajj pilgrimage for Muslims offered by the state government.

This led to a sharp backlash from the opposition BJP, with its firebrand MLA Raja Singh demanding action from Andhra Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy. BJP leader G Bhanu Prakash Reddy and fellow party leaders also staged a protest outside APSRTC office.

The Jagan Reddy led state government has claimed in its defence that the tickets were printed during the erstwhile Chandrababu Naidu led TDP government.