Hindu leaders oppose Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Tirumala visit; police tighten grip on YSRCP leaders

Andhra Pradesh Police serve notices to YSR Congress Party leaders ahead of Jagan Mohan Reddy's Tirupati visit.

The Andhra Pradesh Police Department has served notices to various leaders belonging to the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), ahead of the scheduled visit of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to Tirupati on Friday (September 27, 2024.)

Mr. Jagan is expected to visit Tirupati and undertake a holy trek to the Tirumala hills. Against this backdrop, the Department has warned the party leaders and activists not to take part in Mr. Jagan’s proposed event in Tirupati. The notice is believed to have been served to leaders of the YSR Congress not only in Tirupati and in the neighbouring districts also.

The notice says ‘In view of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s ‘Papa Prakshalana Yatra’ (tour for atonement of sin) to Tirumala, you are hereby cautioned not to act in any manner that can add to the confusion. We are serving this notice to warn you not to participate in any anti-social activity that can escalate tensions”.

In fact, the Department is reliably learnt to be planning to serve a notice even on Mr. Jagan immediately after his arrival at the Tirupati airport. Sources in the Department said the officials are contemplating to prevent his Tirumala tour citing security concerns.

Meanwhile, Hindu organisations and political parties have warned Mr. Jagan not to enter Tirumala temple without giving the declaration, mandatory for non-Hindus.

At a meeting of Hindu leaders held in Tirupati on September 27, 2024, Swamy Srinivasananda Saraswati insisted on any non-Hindu to sign the declaration, as is the practice in vogue. “When the former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had signed the form declaring faith on Lord Venkateswara, why should Jagan Mohan Reddy hesitate?”, he wondered.

Jana Sena Party Tirupati Assembly constituency in-charge K. Kiran Rayal said the party would go to any extent to prevent Mr. Jagan from ‘committing yet another sacrilege’. BJP State committee member K. Ajay Kumar questioned Jagan Mohan Reddy’s ‘real intention’ behind his Tirumala tour and cautioned him not to trigger tension for his own political mileage.