September 22, 2024: A political and religious controversy has erupted in Andhra Pradesh over allegations of adulteration in the Tirumala temple’s famed laddu prasadam, with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy locked in a heated exchange. Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) claimed that animal fat, including fish oil and lard, had been detected in the ghee used to make the laddus, sparking outrage among devotees.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Jagan Mohan Reddy has fiercely denied the accusations, calling them “blatant lies” aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reddy accused Naidu of politicizing the issue for electoral gain, describing the allegations as reckless and harmful to Hindu sentiments worldwide.
Reddy highlighted the rigorous quality checks in place at the temple, stating that ghee samples undergo thorough testing, and any substandard batch is immediately rejected. Meanwhile, the temple management performed purification rituals, including a ‘maha shani homam,’ to restore the sanctity of the laddus.
Naidu, however, doubled down, citing lab reports from Gujarat that purportedly confirmed the presence of animal fat in the ghee. He has also called for a police investigation and criticized the previous TTD administration, led by YSRCP-affiliated officials, for alleged mismanagement. The controversy has sparked widespread debate, with religious leaders, politicians, and even the central government weighing in on the issue.
This escalating row comes at a time when faith, politics, and temple management are increasingly intersecting in Andhra Pradesh, with the state’s political landscape likely to be shaped by this controversy in the coming weeks.
Stay updated with ibizznews.com for more developments.
