'I Read Bible At Home': Jagan Reddy On His Faith Amid Tirupati Laddu Controversy, Claims Adulterated Ghee Was Never Used

President of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Jagan Mohan Reddy has called off his scheduled visit to the Tirumala temple on Saturday (28 September), which was intended to seek atonement for the alleged "sin" of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The 'sin' that Reddy referred to is the allegation by Naidu that animal fat including fish oil, beef tallow and lard (pig fat) was used to prepare Tirupati laddus when YSRCP was in the power and Reddy was the CM.

At a press conference on Friday, Reddy stated that he was denied permission to visit the temple, a claim that was swiftly dismissed by Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The cancelation comes after the BJP sought Reddy's faith declaration before the visit.

According to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple's governing body, non-Hindus and foreigners must declare their reverence for Lord Venkateswara, the deity of the temple, before being allowed to enter.

Although the rule has long existed, new signboards reminding visitors of this requirement were reportedly placed near the temple following Reddy's announcement of his visit earlier in the week.

Revealing his faith, Reddy said, "I read the Bible at home, and I respect and follow Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. I belong to the community of humanity," and questioned how Dalits will be treated when former CM is not allowed in the temple.

The YSR Congress leadership was also served with police notices indicating that Section 30 of the Police Act, which regulates public gatherings, was in effect in the region as they wanted prayers in temples across the state.

During his press conference, Reddy also suggested that the controversy over the laddu ingredients was being used to distract from Naidu's first 100 days in office during this term and that the tendering of ghee is a usual process.

He explained that there is no government interference in the procurement of ghee and that the ghee contract is given by the TTD to the lowest bidder. He also claimed that the adulterated ghee was not used for Tirupati laddu and sent back.

Reddy emphasised that the laddus are pure and sacred, and rejected the claim that animal fat was involved. He also questioned the delay in releasing the lab report on the laddu ingredients by the TDP.

He claimed, "During the Naidu regime from 2014 to 2019 nearly 14-15 times, the Ghee was rejected due to quality issues. There is a robust process. Similarly from 2019 to 2024, 18 times it was rejected and sent back. Whatever I am saying is all facts."