Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been desperately trying to exploit the Hindu sentiment among the people during the ongoing campaign for the by-elections to Tirupati parliamentary constituency, has found yet another issue to target the ruling YSR Congress party.
On Wednesday, BJP official spokesman Bhanuprakash Reddy took strong exception to Tirumala temple’s head priest A V Ramana Deekshitulu’s comment describing chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Deekshitulu, along with three others, has recently been reinstated as the head priest of the Tirumala temple, following the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ decision to do away with the retirement age for the temple priests.
“How can Deekshitulu call Jagan, a Christian, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu? This is nothing but blasphemy and has hurt the sentiments of the Hindu devotees. He is acting like an official spokesman of YSRCP. If he is so interested in praising the chief minister, he should quit his post and join the YSRCP,” Bhanuprakash said.
The BJP leader also found fault with Deekshitulu for saying that there was no propagation of other religions in Tirumala and Tirupati.
“How can he give such a certificate? Will he resign from his post, if I show evidences of preaching of other religions in Tirumala? Is he ready for an inquiry?” he asked.
He also demanded that Ramana Deekshitulu should assume charge as the chief priest of Tirumala temple, only after proving his allegations on the temple, such as missing of pink diamond and looting of Lord’s jewellery stored beneath the temple kitchen.
“How can he ignore all his allegations and quietly take over the post of the chief priest? His comments have damaged the sanctity of the Tirumala temple. He should step into the temple only after apologising for his earlier remarks,” Bhanuprakash said.