Former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday said that he respects all religions and that his religion is humanity after ruling NDA demanded that he declare his religion before visiting the Tirupati temple.
“The entire country, the state, knows my religion. My late father became the chief minister twice and he always took blessings of Lord Balaji. I read the Bible, I respect Hindu religion, traditions and rituals. I also respect Islam and Sikhism. My religion is humanity, write that in the declaration,” YS Jagan Mohan Reddy told reporters.
“I am surprised that leaders from other states are trying to stop me from visiting,” the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister said, referring to notice issued to him and his party, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party’s (YSRCP), cadres which warned them to not defy Section 30 of the Police Act which is in force as they sought to join their party chief on a visit to the Tirupati temple, which was later cancelled due to ‘security reasons’.
He said he visited the temple 11 times and also before he became chief minister. “Back then they never asked me about my religion. And now you are slapping me with this notice to prove my allegiance?” he said.
According to rules, foreigners and non-Hindus should declare their reverence for Lord Venkateswara to have a darshan of the presiding deity at the hill shrine, a former bureaucrat told news agency PTI.
Referring to the demands made by the ruling NDA that he declare his faith before entering the hill shire, he said that one should ‘look at the manner in which people are asking me about my religion to enter the temple’.
“I am surprised that BJP leaders from other states are targeting me,” the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister said.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) took to social media to respond the Jagan’s remarks.
“Who stopped? According to the law, I have to sign that I believe that Swami is the one, if you don’t want to do that, then go away.. Who told you not to sign?” the TDP questioned in a social media post on X.
“Religion based hatred should have any place in politics. Today the BJP is raising a lot of questions about my religion. I want to ask them in return, what action are they taking against their own partner who is desecrating the Tirumala Temple,” he said, referring to Chandrababu Naidu, his successor, who he accused of hatching a ‘laddoo prasadam’ controversy and insulting the sanctity of the temple in the process.
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