The defiant stand taken by YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in refusing to sign the declaration of faith in Lord Venkateswara during his past visits to the Tirumala temple had sparked significant controversy.
Following the row over the alleged adulteration of the Tirumala laddu, Jagan had planned a visit to the temple.
However, he backed out at the last minute after the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition raised objections to his refusal to sign the mandatory declaration affirming his faith in Lord Venkateswara.
Jagan, a Christian by birth and faith, argued that in a secular democratic country like India, no individual should be compelled to sign a declaration at any religious place.
This issue resurfaced on Sunday when Jana Sena Party president and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s third wife, Anna Lezhneva — also a Christian — visited the Tirumala temple and signed the mandatory declaration for non-Hindus, affirming her faith in Lord Venkateswara.
In a further display of devotion, Anna also had her head tonsured at the temple as a mark of gratitude and reverence, thanking the deity for saving her son, Mark Shankar, from a major fire accident at his school in Singapore.
Naturally, comparisons have begun to surface on social media, with many drawing attention to Jagan’s past refusal to comply with Tirumala’s customs.
Users pointed out that Jagan’s father, former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, despite being a practicing Christian who even visited Jerusalem in formal attire, never faced such religious criticism.
YSR maintained a traditional Telugu appearance and showed cultural sensitivity, which helped him avoid being perceived as anti-Hindu, even when there were concerns about his stance on the sanctity of the Tirumala Hills.
In contrast, critics argue that Jagan Mohan Reddy, despite being in power, never visited Tirumala with his wife Bharathi or followed traditional customs such as wearing a tilak or offering temple gifts. During the declaration controversy, he made no public gesture to respect the temple's customs.
Although Jagan has participated in Vedic rituals with Swami Swaroopananda in Rishikesh, attended Ugadi Panchanga Sravanam ceremonies, and took a holy dip in the Krishna River during Pushkaram, his defiance on the Tirumala declaration continues to attract criticism.
On the other hand, Pawan Kalyan accompanied Anna to Tirumala, upheld temple traditions, and ensured she signed the declaration. Her decision to tonsure her head has been widely appreciated on social media.
Ultimately, while faith is a personal matter, the public often takes note of every gesture — especially when it involves religious conduct and cultural sensitivity from leaders.