BJP slammed the Jagan Mohan Reddy government for encouraging conversion

Key Highlights Hindu rights activists said it was sheer negligence of TTD and APSRTC to imprint non-Hindu advertisements on tickets of buses headed to the temple town of Tirupati Calling it Christian propaganda, the BJP slammed the Jagan Mohan Reddy government for encouraging such acts Jagan's uncle Subba Reddy is the 50th Chairman of TTD Trust Board

Hyderabad: The image of a bus ticket of an Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) carrying an advertisement for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem has gone viral. Calling it Christian propaganda, the BJP slammed the Jagan Mohan Reddy government for encouraging such acts.

Hindu rights activists said it was sheer negligence of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and APSRTC to imprint non-Hindu advertisements on tickets of buses headed to the temple town of Tirupati.

Speaking on this issue, BJP spokesperson Lanka Dinakar Lanka said that the TTD is the pride of the Hindus and what is happening is not right. He further said that this “negligent act” at the cost of the taxpayers’ money is providing propaganda for other religion missionaries to carry out illegal conversions in the state.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's uncle YV Subba Reddy is the Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which administers the Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala here.

A senior leader of the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Subba Reddy is the 50th Chairman of TTD Trust Board, which manages affairs of the richest Hindu temple.

When news about YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s maternal uncle becoming the Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Trust Board was reported many social media users took to social media to suggest that Subba Reddy was a devout Christian.

Subba Reddy, however, strongly denied the allegation saying that he was born a Hindu and will die a Hindu.

“All these allegations and smear campaign against me hurt me deeply,” he had said in an interview to a local media channel.

He further said that every year he goes to Sabarimala and every few months he pays a visit to Shirdi.

Subba Reddy further said that those spreading canards against him must visit his residences in Hyderabad or Ongole to see what kind of rituals he performs.

Jagan Mohan sparked outrage in 2012 when he entered Lord Venkateswara's temple without signing the declaration form mentioning his faith in the Lord. This is mandatory for non-Hindus but Jagan Mohan argued there was no need for him to sign as he already had done it while visiting the temple in 2009.