YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s upcoming visit to the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala Hills is stirring political tension in Andhra Pradesh. Scheduled for September 27 and 28, Jagan’s pilgrimage amid the laddu controversy has become a flashpoint, with right-wing groups and BJP leaders demanding that he publicly declare his religious faith before entering the sacred shrine.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) state unit has emphasised that while Jagan has the constitutional right to follow any religion of his choice, they argue that the customs and traditions of other faiths, especially Hinduism, should be respected. BJP leader L Dinakar called on Reddy to honor the temple’s rituals and traditions, a demand that stems from the fact that Jagan is a practicing Christian.

Jagan’s Schedule for Tirumala Visit

According to the itinerary, Jagan will depart from Gannavaram Airport on the evening of September 27 and arrive in Renigunta by 4 PM. From there, he will proceed to Tirumala, where he is expected to arrive by 7 PM and stay overnight.

On the morning of September 28, Jagan will leave the guest house at 10:20 AM to offer prayers at the Lord Venkateswara temple.

Jagan had stated that he would be visiting the temple as part of the statewide temple rituals mandated by the party to seek atonement for the alleged ‘sin’ attributed to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu regarding his allegations on Tirupati laddus.

Tirupati Police Imposes Restrictions

To manage the situation and avoid potential clashes, the Tirupati police have issued prohibitory orders, restricting public gatherings, rallies, and meetings ahead of Jagan’s visit. Security has been tightened in and around Tirumala, and notices have been sent to YSRCP leaders, warning them against participating in any events related to the visit.

YSRCP, however, has raised concerns about the actions of the police, accusing them of placing party leaders under house arrest. The party claims that the restrictions imposed by the police are politically motivated, aimed at curbing the party’s activities.

Right-Wing Protest: “Go Back Christian Jagan”

Ahead of Jagan’s visit, Hindu organisations have organized protests under the banner of “Go Back Christian Jagan.” The protest, held at Garuda Kudali in Alipiri, Tirupati, is led by right-wing groups who oppose Jagan’s entry into the Tirumala temple without making a formal declaration of his faith. The protestors claim that Jagan, during his previous tenure as Chief Minister, had disrespected the sanctity of Tirumala and therefore should not be allowed to visit the temple.

The demonstrators also made it clear that they would block Jagan at every step if he attempted to enter the temple, stating that Tirumala should not be used for political purposes. They further demanded that pilgrims, including Jagan, should follow the traditional practice of offering tarantulas at Kapila Theertham before proceeding to the temple.