Andhra CM Jagan Reddy, a protestant Christian by faith, ignored the demands of the Hindu groups and the opposition parties that he should follow the decades-old tradition of signing the declaration form meant for non-Hindus, that “He respects Venkateshwara and has faith in god sri Venkateshwara” .
YSR Congress Party president and chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday visited the popular hill shrine of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala in Chittoor district without signing the mandatory declaration proclaiming his faith in the presiding God Venkateshwara, leading to protests from Hindu groups and opposition parties. He wore traditional attire of a Hindu devotee, wore the “Thiru Namam” (the Vaishnavite tilak on the forehead) and carried silk clothes on his head into the temple to present them on behalf of the state government. Hindu’s have called this a farce.Jagan, a protestant Christian by faith, ignored the demands of common people, Hindu groups and all the opposition parties that he should follow the decades-old tradition of signing the declaration form meant for non-Hindus. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust board chairman had removed the rule and said that there was no need for non-Hindus to sign the declaration compulsorily. Hindus havent accepted this change at all and remains a sore wound.
The TTD chairman’s statement triggered massive protests from common people, Hindu groups. On Wednesday, activists of Bajrang Dal tried to lay siege to Jagan’s Lotus Pond residence at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad and courted arrests.A tense atmosphere prevailed in Tirupati, where the police took hundreds of TDP and BJP leaders and activists into preventive custody as they planned to take out protest rallies on the occasion of the chief minister’s visit. It is war like situation. Hindus have said that Jagan Mohan being a non-hindu has no business in hindu relegious matters.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, demanded that Jagan should respect the temple traditions and sign the declaration meant for non-Hindus. He also demanded that as per the traditions, Jagan should also be accompanied by his wife Bharati. He accused the Jagan government of hurting the sentiments of Hindus.Popular seer of Sri Peetham Swamy Paripoornananda told reporters in Hyderabad that Jagan should respect the feelings of the Hindus, as he would not lose anything by signing the declaration.
However, YSRCP leaders rejected the demand of the opposition parties and Hindu groups. State civil supplies minister Kodali Nani questioned the propriety of imposing such a rule in Tirumala. “Only those who have faith in Lord Venkateshwara come to Tirumala temple. Why should anybody declare their faith again?” he asked. This kind of stubborn and disrespecting behaviour with respect to god has made large number of hindus lose respect for YSRCP Leaders.
by Arvind Reddy
