‘Jagan offering lame excuses for dropping Tirumala visit’

Home Minister V Anitha has clarified that former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was not stopped from visiting the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.
Speaking at a press conference at the TDP State office in Mangalagiri on Saturday, the Home Minister stated that Jagan Mohan Reddy, lacking faith in Hinduism, had chosen not to visit the temple, despite now offering other excuses.
She criticised him, alleging that during his tenure as Chief Minister, adulterated ghee was used to prepare the sacred ‘Laddu Prasadam’ at the Tirumala temple. According to her, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) confirmed that the ghee contained animal fat, and she accused Jagan of trying to divert attention from the issue by launching counterattacks against the current government.
The Home Minister also addressed the rumours circulating on social media, claiming that Jagan Mohan Reddy intended to visit Tirumala with 10,000 followers and activists. In response, the police enforced Section 30 of the Police Act in Tirupati as a precautionary measure and notified Jagan Mohan Reddy, after which he cancelled his visit. Anitha accused him of misleading the public about the reason for his cancellation.
She also acknowledged the massive preparations being made by the TTD for the upcoming ‘Brahmotsavams’ next week. Criticising Jagan’s accusations against the government for allegedly obstructing his visit, Anitha stated that if Jagan Mohan Reddy truly wished to visit Tirumala, he could do so as a regular devotee, and the government would arrange for his darshan.
The Home Minister further mentioned that several spiritual organisations had announced their opposition to Jagan’s visit to Tirumala, and highlighted his previous behaviour during visits when he was in power.
“No YSRCP leader has been arrested or taken into preventive custody, nor has the police been deployed to any YSRCP leader’s house,” Anitha asserted, adding that no official had told Jagan Reddy not to visit the temple. She questioned why Jagan hesitated to submit the declaration at Tirumala, in line with the temple’s norms and accused him of engaging in divertive politics instead of addressing the adulterated ghee issue directly.