'Non-Hindus Must Give Faith Declaration': Andhra BJP On Jagan Reddy's Plan To Visit Tirupati Temple Amid Laddus Controversy

After former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's plan to visit Tirupati temple amid laddus controversy came to light, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged him to sign a faith declaration form.

The controversy erupted when the state's ruling party Telugu Desam Party (TDP) alleged that when the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) was in power, animal fat was found in the ghee used to make laddus for prasadam.

Citing a private lab report from Gujarat, Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu alleged the presence of "beef tallow," "lard," and fish oil in the ghee used for making temple prasadam when Jagan Mohan Reddy was the CM.

The YSRCP has rejected the accusations and accused Naidu of offending the feelings of countless devotees. Reddy has responded by urging people to stand against the 'false claims.'

Reddy's planned visit to the temple is a part of YSRCP's move to symbolically deny the allegations as the party has called for participation in poojas across temples statewide when Reddy goes to Tirupati.

Taking note of this, BJP's Andhra president Daggubati Purandeswari referred to the practice of declaring one's faith before visiting the Tirumala Tirupati temple and urged Reddy to do the same.

"As per G.O. MS NO- 311 of AP Revenue Endowments--1, Rule no 16, Non-Hindus must give a declaration at Vaikuntam que complex before darshan in the faith form," he said indirectly referring to Reddy as a non-Hindu.

"BJP demands that even before Jagan Mohan Reddy begins mounting Tirumala, he should give the declaration of his faith at the Garuda statue itself at Alipiri," Purandeswari posted on X citing TTD rule 136.

TTD stands for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board, which manages the functioning of the Tirupati temple. It has claimed to have restored the sanctity of Srivari laddu prasadam after allegations came to light.