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Jagan Tirumala Visit courts big trouble
YSR Congress Party, Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Tirumala, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Jagan Mohan Reddy, Tirupathi Visit, YSRCP, AICC chief, Sonia Gandhi
YSR Congress Party president and Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy landed in a controversy when he went in for a darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala without signing the formal declaration of his faith in the Lord as required by temple rules for non-Hindus. a Christian for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) top brass was left red-faced.
Followers of Jagan raised slogans of 'Jai Jagan' just as they were entering the main entrance of the temple during the VIP break darshan in the morning. There were more than 60 members in his entourage which was in violation of temple rules which do not allow more than 10 members along with the VIP.
When Jagan entered the temple around 7 am on Wednesday the Sahastra Kalashabhishekam special puja was being performed, but a TTD superintendent again requested him to sign the declaration form. But, the young leader again refused and waited along with his followers at the Ranganayakula mandapam till the puja was over.
Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is a practising Christian, is learnt to have refused to sign the form despite being told repeatedly by TTD staff about the norm. He arrived at the hill shrine on Tuesday night after completing his first day electioneering in Tirupati and checked into a guesthouse.
When the media sought an explanation, TTD executive officer LV Subramanyam said the TTD completed all formalities for obtaining the necessary declaration from the Kadapa MP, but he refused to sign. “Jagan told our employees that he need not sign the document now as he had already signed one in 2009 when he came for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara for the first time and that the rule does not apply to second-time visitors,” Subramanyam said. An inquiry was ordered and it is being ascertained whether it is necessary to sign the declaration every time a person of non-Hindu faith visits the temple, he added.
Tirupati YSRCP candidate B Karunakar Reddy, who served as the TTD trust board chairman, found fault with TTD authorities for seeking a declaration from the Kadapa MP. “Did they ask for such a declaration from AICC chief Sonia Gandhi when she came for darshan here,” he asked.
Jagan’s decision to defy the norms drew flack from political parties, including the Congress and the TDP, which said the Kadapa MP, who is in a responsible post, should not have done so. They pointed out that Jagan Mohan Reddy’s followers created chaos at the temple and raised slogans disturbing the sanctity of the holy hills, the most revered place for millions of Hindus across the globe.
Wed 02 May, 2012,10:12:14 PM
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