Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday, dismissed Jagan Mohan Reddy’s allegation that he was denied entry to the Tirumala temple, challenging Reddy to present proof of any notice. “I am asking him to show the notice served to him,” Naidu insisted, refuting the claims.
Naidu clarified that the police had invoked Section 30 of the Police Act in Tirumala due to recent events but maintained that no specific notice was issued barring Reddy from entering the temple. He accused Reddy of misleading the public, stating, “The former chief minister is trying to deceive people with outright lies. Religious traditions must be respected without exception.”
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Naidu also criticized Jagan for failing to honor Tirumala’s customs, pointing out that while Reddy has acknowledged reading the Bible, he should also show respect for the traditions of other religions. “When he says he respects other religions, he should equally respect the customs at Tirumala,” Naidu argued.
Addressing the ongoing controversy regarding the purity of temple offerings, Naidu challenged Reddy’s claims. “Jagan keeps repeating the lie that no adulteration took place. AR Dairy sent eight tankers of ghee; four have already been consumed. After numerous complaints, samples from the remaining tankers were sent to the NDDB for testing,” Naidu asserted. He further accused Jagan of “disputing the NDDB’s findings” and emphasized, “We are accountable to the people and devotees and must disclose the report.”
Naidu also revealed plans to introduce legislation requiring only individuals of the same faith to work in religious institutions. “We are planning to introduce a law to make it mandatory for people of the same faith to work in religious institutions,” he announced.
In a broader critique of the YSRC government, Naidu highlighted several irregularities not just in Tirumala but across other temples. He condemned the lack of action in incidents like the vandalization of the Ramatheertham idol, the burning of the Antarvedi chariot, and the theft of silver lion idols from the Durga temple. He further remarked, “Jagan avoided visiting Tirumala because he would have to sign the declaration register, something he is unwilling to do.”
Earlier in the day, YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the TDP government of blocking his temple visit. He claimed the police, under Naidu’s orders, had issued notices to YSRCP leaders preventing them from attending the event. “The police clearly mentioned in the notices that the Tirumala visit had no approval. Why do we need police permission to visit a temple?” Reddy asked, accusing the TDP government of imposing a “demon rule” in Andhra Pradesh.
Reddy also claimed that the police restricted YSRCP leaders from participating in the event organized for his visit, stating, “The notice says that the Tirumala temple visit is not allowed, and the program organized by YSRCP lacks the necessary approvals.”
