Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 24 : Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday held former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy responsible for the "contamination" of the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam.
Kalyan said that he is ready to die for Sanatana Dharma, and he will have no restrictions in the country if he must fight for it.
"I don't know whether YV Subbareddy and Karunakar Reddy have converted to Christianity and I didn't bother about it and under your (Jagan Mohan Reddy) regime, a board was established, and you are responsible and accountable for this contamination. We are raising these questions only after receiving reports," Pawan Kalyan said here.
YV Subbareddy and Karunakar Reddy held the position of chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams during the previous YSRCP government.
"Secularism is two-way and should come from all directions. It is unacceptable for Hindus to abuse one another. I am not criticizing Christianity or Islam. If contamination occurs in a mosque or church, will you remain silent and not protest?" he added.
Kalyan also slammed film actor Prakash Raj for questioning his secularism credentials.
"I am addressing the sanctity of Hinduism and issues like food adulteration. Why should I not speak about these matters? I respect you Prakash Raj, and when it comes to secularism, it must be mutual. I do not understand why you are criticizing me. Should I not speak out against attacks on Sanatana Dharma? Prakash should learn a lesson. The film industry and others should not make light of this issue; I am very serious about Sanatana Dharma. Many critics have targeted Ayyappa and Goddess Saraswati. Sanatana Dharma is of utmost importance. Every Hindu should take responsibility in this regard. If similar issues arose in other religions, there would be widespread agitation," he said.
Kalyan arrived at Kanaka Durga Temple, in Vijayawada on Tuesday morning to perform a purification ritual, as part of his 11-day 'Prayaschitta Diksha' to atone for the alleged use of animal fat in the preparation of the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam.
"Today marks the third day of Prayashchitta Diksha. Since my childhood, I have followed Sanatana Dharma and am a devotee of Sri Ram and proud to be proud Hindus. During the Vijayanagara dynasty, Arabic entrepreneurs sought permission to build mosques, and we constructed a temple alongside them," he said.
The row comes days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the Prasdam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government.