Jagan Reddy cancels visit to Tirupati temple amid row over animal fat in laddus
Mr. Reddy had previously declared that he would go to the temple to atone for the “sin” that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu—who has maintained that the laddus served at the temple as “prasad” was made with animal fat—was alleged to have committed.
YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday cancelled his visit to the Tirumala temple, which was aimed at atonement for the “sin” allegedly committed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has claimed that animal fat was used in making the famous laddus offered as ‘prasad’ at the temple.
During a Friday afternoon press conference, Mr. Reddy claimed he was not permitted to enter the temple; however, Mr. Naidu’s TDP denied this claim.
The decision comes amid a political row in the state after the TDP and its ally BJP demanded that Mr Reddy, a former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, sign a manifesto for non-Hindus. The parties have said that as per the rules of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which manages the Tirumala Tirupati temple, foreigners and non-Hindus must declare their devotion to Lord Venkateswara, to whom the shrine is dedicated, before entering the temple.
