A political storm has erupted in Andhra Pradesh after former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy described the high-profile Tirumala Parakamani theft case as a "small and simple theft." The remark has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling NDA alliance partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who have accused Reddy of hurting the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus and trivialising sacred temple traditions.
Alliance Partners Launch Scathing Attack
The BJP and TDP have united in their condemnation of the former chief minister's comments. The BJP asserted that Jagan's characterisation of the theft has deeply wounded the feelings of millions of Hindu devotees. Simultaneously, the TDP accused him of committing a sin by appearing to support the misappropriation of funds considered to be the wealth of the deity.
TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh took to social media platform X to express his outrage. In a pointed post, he questioned, "Does the Parakamani case appear petty to the man who looted one lakh crore of public money? It is a huge sin." This statement directly links the temple issue to broader allegations of corruption during Reddy's tenure.
Allegations of Mocking Sanctity and Compromising Investigations
TDP spokesperson Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar elaborated on the party's stance, accusing Jagan Mohan Reddy of belittling not just the Parakamani case but also the sacred Tirupati Laddu tradition. He cited Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) findings to allege that adulterated ghee was supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) between 2019 and 2024. He claimed this could have led to nearly 20 crore laddus being prepared with substandard ingredients.
Vijay Kumar emphasised that the probe into these matters was initiated on the orders of the Supreme Court. He accused the former CM of ridiculing both the judicial investigation and the sanctity associated with the laddu prasadam. The spokesperson further alleged that individuals closely associated with Jagan interfered in temple administration, facilitated compromises in the Parakamani theft investigation, and bypassed established procedures.
"Mocking laddus, hundi offerings, and temple practices is unacceptable from a former chief minister," Vijay Kumar stated. He added, "He may not believe in Lord Venkateswara, but crores of Hindus worship him with utmost devotion. Jagan Mohan Reddy should apologise for hurting the sentiments of crores of Hindus."
BJP Warns of Dangerous Precedent
Adding to the criticism, TTD board member and BJP spokesperson G Bhanuprakash Reddy warned that Jagan's remarks could embolden wrongdoers. He suggested that such statements might make offenders feel they have political protection. Bhanuprakash Reddy stressed the profound sanctity that Hindu devotees attach to the Tirumala hundi, where they offer their hard-earned money with deep faith and devotion, regardless of the amount.
The unified attack from the NDA allies underscores the sensitive nature of issues concerning the Tirumala temple, one of the world's richest and most visited Hindu pilgrimage centres. The controversy has shifted the political discourse in the state back to matters of governance, religious sentiment, and alleged malpractice during the previous YSRCP regime.
