Tirupati: A video showing a Muslim man offering namaz near the Tirumala Kalyana Mandapam, part of the sacred Sri Venkateswara temple complex in Andhra Pradesh, has ignited a firestorm of controversy. The incident, which occurred on May 22, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from devotees and political leaders, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Telangana MLA T. Raja Singh leading calls for the immediate arrest of the individual involved.
The man, identified as a driver accompanying Hindu pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, was recorded praying for approximately 10 minutes near the Purohita Sangham area, close to the venue where the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) conducts mass weddings. The video, which went viral on social media, shows the man wearing a Hazrat cap and spreading a cloth on the ground to offer namaz. Reports suggest he sought permission from a local before praying, but the act was filmed and shared online, amplifying public outrage.
T. Raja Singh, the controversial BJP legislator from Goshamahal, Hyderabad, condemned the incident in a fiery statement on X, labeling it a “blatant violation” of the sanctity of Tirumala, one of Hinduism’s holiest sites. “This is an insult to millions of devotees. The person who dared to perform namaz in the sacred premises must be arrested immediately, and strict action should be taken to deter such acts,” Singh demanded. He further called on the TTD and Andhra Pradesh government to enforce stringent measures to prevent non-Hindu religious practices on the temple hills, citing the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, which prohibits such activities.
The TTD, which administers the temple, has launched an investigation, utilizing CCTV footage and the vehicle’s registration number (TN 83T6705) to identify the individual. TTD board member G. Bhanu Prakash Reddy echoed Singh’s sentiments, alleging the incident could be a “deliberate attempt to provoke religious tensions,” possibly orchestrated by political rivals like the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Meanwhile, YSRCP leader Bhumana Abhinay Reddy criticized the TTD’s vigilance, calling the incident “deeply hurtful” and demanding accountability for lapses in security.
