YSR Congress president and the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy called off his visit to the iconic Hindu temple at Tirupati, Tirumala. He took this decision amid a continuing laddu controversy at the temple complex.

He had been accused by TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of using animal fat in the laddus. Sources close to Reddy said his visit to the hill shrine has been cancelled but did not immediately reveal the reason behind the decision, which came hours before he was to depart for the temple town.

It is being told that Reddy's visit was cancelled amid the demand of NDA allies in Andhra Pradesh that he should declare his faith before entering the temple. Mr. Reddy was quoted saying in a press conference that everyone in the country knew his religion, and he has visited Tirumala temple many times even before becoming CM.

He said that even though he reads the Bible within four walls, he respects Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism.

Reddy said that it is being shown on TV that thousands of policemen have been deployed in Tirupati to prevent their leaders from visiting the temple. Reddy further said, he has hit back at Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu over the laddu controversy. He said, (Chandrababu Naidu) raised the issue of laddu to divert attention from the failures of 100 days of rule. To hide his failures on the laddu issue, he brought the issue of declaration of faith. He deliberately sowed seeds of doubt on the quality of the laddu.