YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy canceled his planned visit to Tirumala temple on Saturday, a trip intended to seek atonement for what he referred to as the "sin" allegedly committed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu had earlier claimed that the renowned laddoo prasadam offered at the temple contained animal fat instead of pure ghee.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Reddy claimed he was denied permission to visit the temple, an assertion that Naidu’s TDP party quickly denied.

The incident comes amid growing political tensions in Andhra Pradesh, as both the TDP and its ally, the BJP, have demanded that Reddy, who served as the state's former chief minister, sign a declaration required of non-Hindus visiting the Tirumala shrine. The rule, enforced by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), mandates that non-Hindus declare their respect for Lord Venkateswara before entering the temple.

Though this regulation has long been in place, new signboards detailing the rule reportedly appeared near the temple following Reddy's announcement of his visit earlier this week. Chandrababu Naidu reiterated his stance that all visitors must adhere to the temple's traditions, emphasizing the protection of Hindu sentiments.

Reddy's party members were also reportedly issued notices by the police under Section 30 of the Police Act, regulating public gatherings, due to reports of party supporters planning to congregate in large numbers along the route to the temple as part of statewide rituals intended to seek forgiveness for Naidu's "sin."

At his press conference, Reddy accused Naidu of using the laddoo controversy to distract from the performance of his government during its first 100 days. Reddy also called out Naidu's delay in making public the laboratory reports regarding the quality of ghee used in the prasadam, stating, "The Chief Minister should not be making baseless claims about the temple's prasadam. The tender process for procuring ghee is transparent, and the government has no role in it."

Naidu, however, stood firm, asserting that the laddoo controversy and the declaration requirement for non-Hindu visitors were not new and had been long-standing policies. He also pointed out that even former President APJ Abdul Kalam had signed the declaration during his visit.

TDP spokesperson Jyothsna Tirunagari further clarified that Reddy was not denied permission to visit the temple, adding, "He is making false claims. The rule for non-Hindus to make a declaration has always been part of temple protocol."

The political row has intensified with Reddy's decision to cancel his visit and his allegations against Naidu, further fueling the debate over temple regulations and the purity of the revered laddoo prasadam.