Leaders of TDP, BJP and Jana Sena Party (JSP) from Nandyal and Anantapur districts have lashed out at the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for showing disrespect and hurting the sentiments of Hindus by staging a protest while holding photographs of Lord Venkateswara in the Legislative Council.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event organised on the occasion of the 179th death anniversary of freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy on Sunday (February 22), Nandyal MP Byreddy Shabari decried the manner in which the YSRCP MLCs dragged Lord Venkateswara into politics. “By using Lord Venkateswara for its political gains, the YCRSP and its chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy have laid foundation for their own downfall,” she said.
Ms Shabari said the YSRCP has made an atheist Bhumana Karunakara Reddy, who termed Lord Venkateswara a ‘Black stone’, as the TTD Trust Board chairman. Similarly, another leader YV Subba Reddy, who holds a Bible in his hands, was made TTD Trust Board chairman. “Temples and deities lacked safety and protection during the five-year YSRCP rule,” she alleged. This sacrilege and disregard towards Hindu sentiments had made them lose the 2024 elections and confined them to just 11 MLAs, she said adding that the YSRCP had not mended its ways even after tasting a crushing defeat.
Meanwhile, Minister for Roads and Buildings BC Janardhan Reddy along with district BJP president A. Madhu and others said Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy is anti-Hindu and lacks any respect for democracy. He alleged that the YSRCP members have brought the photographs of Lord Venkateswara into the Council to prove their existence. “The misdeed of the YSRCP MLCs by holding the Lord Venkateswara posters wearing footwear was caught on camera. Instead of repenting, they are trying to mislead the people,” he said.
Mr. Janardhan Reddy said Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy does not have any respect for Hindu traditions and did not offer the silk clothes to Lord Venkateswara along with his wife during the Brahmotsavams which was a tradition. He also found fault with a senior leader like Botcha Satyanarayana for supporting Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy instead of correcting his leader.
In Anantapur, the district presidents of TDP, JSP and BJP, Pula Nagaraju, TC Varun and K. Rajesh, condemned the manner in which the YSRCP had hurt the sentiments of Hindus.
Published – February 22, 2026 04:35 pm IST
