Amaravati: TDP advised AP CM YS Jagan not to visit Tirumala during Brahmotsavams to present silk vastrams to Lord Venkateswara unless he provides a declaration according to the age-old tradition. In a statement on Monday, former minister and senior TDP leader KS Jawahar said that Jagan should not go to the temple if he does not have faith in Tirumala's deity. For his extremely offensive statements that hurt the feelings of Hindus everywhere, the TDP leader blamed Minister Kodali Nani. Jawahar added that YCP ministers, MLAs and leaders, along with their Chief Minister, should not come to the temple of Tirumala if they do not have belief.

In a tweet, former TTD chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav called for the TTD administration not to abolish the long-established practise of a declaration to be submitted by non-Hindus before darshan at the temple. It would ruin the overall atmosphere of sacredness of the shrine if such customs were tampered with now, he cautioned.