Jagan embroiled in controversy for entering Tirupati temple

YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy has become embroiled in a controversy after allegedly violating norms by entering the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.

Jagan, a practising Christian, did not sign a mandatory declaration that non-Hindus have to sign before entering the shrine.

According to reports, Jagan visited the temple on Wednesday while campaigning for upcoming bypolls in Andhra Pradesh.

The Kadapa MP reportedly entered the temple through the Vaikuntam Queue Complex-I in the morning along with several of his followers.

Jagan visited the temple along with his party's Tirupati candidate Bhumana Karunakara Reddy and 60 others.

Temple officials said even after they approached Jagan to sign the declaration, he refused to adhere to the norms as he had already signed one in 2009.

YSR Congress spokesperson Ambati Rambabu however said that Jagan had visited the shrine earlier too and that the allegations were aimed at political gains in the next month's elections.

A senior leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Dadi Veerabhadra Rao contended that Jagan being a Christian, should have given the mandatory declaration during his visit on Wednesday.

"Jagan has hurt the sentiments of devotees by not giving such a declaration," Rao was quoted by the Press Trust of India, as saying.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) rules require people belonging to non-Hindu religions to sign a formal declaration for the darshan.

TDD authorities have meanwhile ordered an enquiry into the fiasco.