A petition that was filed against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy in the Andhra Pradesh High Court was dismissed where the petitioner had claimed the CM who is a practicing Christian had visited the visit to Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams without sufficient declaration.
While dismissing the petition the High Court observed that “Merely attending the Christian Gospel conventions and attending the prayers in Churches, one cannot be considered as a Christian”.
The High Court also made it very clear that a person cannot be called Christian if they read the Bible or have a crucifix in the house and one also does not become a Christian by having a Biblical name or by attending a church sermon.
“Does one become a “Christian” just by having a biblical name or just by attending a Church sermon? Can one be called as a ‘Christian’ just because they read the Bible or have the Crucifix in their house? Admittedly, the answer will be negative”, the High Court said.
The High Court also held that it is part of the State tradition where a serving Chief Minister presents the ‘Pattu Vastralu’ to the deity.
“In the opinion of this Court, he entered into the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam’s temples, in the capacity of the Chief Minister of the State, as a representative of the people of the state, and as such, he need not submit a declaration as provided under Rule 136 of the Rules.”, the Court held.
There are extensive reports in the past that Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) centred around CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and his late father former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy is devout Christian family. Jagan’s brother-in-law Anil Kumar is a powerful televangelist with his own ministries.
Allegations have been made that ever since this devout Christian family-centred YSRCP came to power, the evangelical organisations are using the power of the state in carrying out mass conversions and are subsidised by the state with Hindu taxpayers’ money for it.
Also, ever since Jagan Mohan Reddy became CM, the number of attacks on Hindu temples have increased at an alarming rate and so far no one has been caught.