Delhi: Jagan Mohan Reddy, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has canceled his planned visit to the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala Hills, scheduled for Saturday.

He cited security concerns as the reason for his decision. This announcement comes in the wake of the ongoing laddu controversy in Tirupati.

Reddy, the leader of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), had intended to visit the temple as part of a statewide initiative to perform rituals aimed at seeking forgiveness for what his party described as the ‘sin’ committed by current Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

This ‘sin’ refers to Naidu's allegations that Reddy's government used low-quality ingredients and animal fat in the prasad laddus at the Tirupati Temple, sparking outrage across the nation.

Police warnings and public response

On Friday, just before Reddy’s planned visit, local police issued warnings to several YSRCP leaders and party members, reminding them not to violate Section 30 of the Police Act. This section is designed to maintain public order during events. The police were compelled to issue these notices due to social media posts encouraging party supporters to gather in Tirupati to show solidarity with Reddy.

Following Reddy’s announcement, members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) demanded that the former Chief Minister publicly declare his faith before visiting the temple. According to temple rules, non-Hindus and foreigners must express their reverence for Lord Venkateswara to receive a darshan, or viewing, of the deity.