Hajj, Jerusalem Pilgrimage Ads Printed on APSRTC Bus Tickets For Temple Town Tirumala, BJP Slams 'Non-Hindu' Jagan Mohan Reddy
A political controversy has broken out in Andhra Pradesh after some passengers pointed out that government advertisements about pilgrimage to Hajj and Jerusalem were printed on back of APSRTC bus tickets for the temple town of Tirumala.
Tirupati, August 23: A political controversy has broken out in Andhra Pradesh after some passengers pointed out that government advertisements about pilgrimage to Hajj and Jerusalem were printed on back of APSRTC bus tickets for the temple town of Tirumala. Raising the issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy does not respect the Hindu religion.
According to a report, some people travelling from Tirupati to Tirumala noticed advertisements about pilgrimage to Hajj and Jerusalem on tickets issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation of APSRTC. They brought it to the notice of the regional manager who said a bundle with printed material about non-Hindu pilgrimage had wrongly come to Tirupati, NDTV reported. 10 TDP MLAs Ready to Join YSRCP if Jagan Mohan Reddy Accepts, Says M Srinivasa Rao.
The Executive Director of APSRTC confirmed that they have taken note of ads about non-Hindu pilgrimage on tickets for Tirumala town and a probe had been launched. "It is an advertisement of the government issued by the minorities department," he informed. Reacting to the issue, BJP leaders alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy is pushing his agenda for minority religions. Why Jagan Mohan Reddy Can't Dump Amaravati as Capital?
BJP Tweet on Ticket Controversy:
"Before election, YSRCP slogan was 'Kavali Jagan, Ravali Jagan' (Andhra needs Jagan, wants Jagan) But Now, Is this their new Slogan- Ravali Jesus, Kavali Jesus?" read a tweet by BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit on Friday. Promoting one particular religion on bus ticket to Tirupati is highly objectionable. This must come to an end," it added.
Jagan has been on target of the BJP ever since he took reins of the state. He's been called "non-Hindu" by BJP leaders. Earlier this week, the BJP had claimed that the chief minister had refused to light a lamp during an event in the US, where he is on a visit. They alleged it was because he did not respect Hindu traditions such as lighting a lamp.
Jagan's YSR Congress Party, however, defended him and clarified that there was no question of he refusing to light a lamp as there were only electrical switches and not the traditional oil and wick lamps.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2019 04:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).