A severe controversy has erupted after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Reddy decided to appoint his close relative and former Ongole MP Subba Reddy, who is alleged to be converted Christian, to the post of chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) evoking huge protests in the social media.
According to the reports, YS Jagan Reddy, who himself is allegedly converted Christian, has decided to appoint his maternal uncle YV Subba Reddy as the Chairman of one of the country’s richest Hindu temple administration board – the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Reportedly, Subba Reddy is being picked up as YS Jagan Reddy feels that his uncle is a man who has a spiritual and religious bent of mind. Subba Reddy has been playing an important role in party activities in East and West Godavari districts so far.
The TTD is a trust run by IAS officers, administrators and political appointees whose job is to coordinate with the temple priests and ensure that the devotees who visit in lakhs get the best of the services. Previously, the TDP government under N Chandrababu Naidu had appointed Putta Sudhakar Yadav as the Chairman of the TTD board. He is yet to resign from the board despite his party lost the state elections to the YSR Congress.
However, social media users and practising Hindus were found to be upset as the rumours began to spread that a converted Christian was chosen as the Chairman of one of the Hindu’s most sacred and spiritual shrines in the country.
Social media users criticised the decision saying that Indian secularism allows state governments to control and destroy Hindu Temples.
https://twitter.com/RituRathaur/status/1136352498652917761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/shakkuiyer/status/1136521829391032320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Another user also termed the rumoured appointment of converted Christian YV Subbareddy as the final nail in the coffin of Lord Venkateswara.
https://twitter.com/reddy4India/status/1136510278118412288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Ishkaran Bhandari, a renowned Supreme Court lawyer demanded the independence of Hindu temples from the government control.
https://twitter.com/Ish_Bhandari/status/1136526527607128064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
However, a report by GreatAndhra claims that it is fake news that YV Subba Reddy is Christian. It says that he is a staunch Hindu, unlike Jagan and his family. He is married to Yerram Swarnalatha Reddy, sister of Jagan’s mother Vijayalakshmi. Swarnalatha did not convert to Christianity, and she follows pure Hindu tradition, according to the report.