Bharatiya Janata Party which has been trying to gain political mileage by raking up Christian faith of YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, has found yet another opportunity to kick up fresh controvery.
The controversy in on publishing of an advertisement campaign on the backside of RTC bus tickets issued to pilgrims on Tirumala travelling to Tirupati, promoting travel to Jerusalem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
The incident that happened on Thursday came to light on Friday, when a screenshot of the ticket promoting Christianity went viral in the social media.
BJP Tirupati unit staged a protest demonstration at the local bus depot demanding action against the RTC management responsible for the issuance of the tickets.
It was only a couple of days ago that the BJP made a big issue out of Jagan’s alleged reluctance to light the lamp to mark the inauguration of an NRI meet at Dallas.
This is despite the clarification by the YSRC and the state government that the light was an electronic one and Jagan had only touched it to light the same.
But the BJP described Jagan as anti-Hindu. Now, they have got another chance to attack the YSRC government.
Alleging a conspiracy to hurt the sentiment of Hindus, BJP State unit president Kanna Lakshminarayana said it publishing Christian publicity matte on the RTC bus tickets issued to pilgrims of Tirumala amounted to propagating Christianity among the Hindus.
“This has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Hindus. No religion and faith should be subjected to pain in a secular society", he said.
BJP MLA in Telangana assembly T Raja Singh also accused the YSRC government or promoting Christianity in Hindu religious places.
Endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas sought to turn the blame on to the previous TDP government, saying the tenders for printing of RTC tickets was issued during the TDP regime.
He, however, said the tickets were meant for Nellore depot, but were accidentally taken to Tirumala.
"An enquiry has been ordered. Stern action would be taken against the officials responsible, once the enquiry report is obtained," he said.
