Tirupati Laddoo Controversy: Chandrababu Naidu Demands Review of Temple Food Offerings -

Tirupati Laddoo Controversy: Chandrababu Naidu Demands Review of Temple Food Offerings

A political storm has erupted in Andhra Pradesh over the alleged use of animal fat in the preparation of the famous Tirupati laddus, a sacred prasadam offered at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has sparked a controversy by claiming that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the laddus during the previous YSRCP government’s tenure

Naidu’s Allegations and Lab Report

Naidu made the startling revelation during an NDA legislative party meeting, alleging that the YSRCP government had used animal fat instead of pure ghee in the laddus

1. To back up his claims, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has displayed a purported lab report from a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, NDDB CALF Ltd.The lab report, dated July 16, 2024, apparently confirms the presence of “beef tallow” in the given ghee sample. It also claims the presence of “lard” (relating to pig fat) and fish oil in the samples.

YSRCP’s Denial and Legal Action

The allegations have been vehemently denied by the opposition YSRCP, with senior leader YV Subba Reddy describing Naidu’s comments as “malicious”

1. Reddy, a former TTD chairman, has defended the quality of ghee used, asserting that it was sourced from indigenous cows and meets high standards

1.In response to the controversy, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the former Chief Minister, has moved the High Court seeking a detailed probe into the claims made by Naidu. The lawyer has requested that either a sitting judge or a committee appointed by the High Court investigate the allegations.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ Stance

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the Tirumala temple, has not yet issued an official confirmation on the lab report. However, the temple authorities have maintained that the laddus are prepared using high-quality ghee procured through an online bidding process with stringent quality checks

1.The TTD has a state-of-the-art food testing laboratory that conducts rigorous checks on every laddu, ensuring consistency in weight and ingredient proportions

1. Each batch undergoes thorough quality control before distribution

Naidu’s Demand for Review

Amid the controversy, Chandrababu Naidu has called for a review of the food offerings at the Tirumala temple

4. He has alleged that the previous government had provided substandard food to devotees as anna prasadam and used inferior ingredients for making the prasadam offered to Lord Venkateswara

.Naidu’s demand for a review has sparked a heated debate, with the YSRCP accusing him of indulging in “heinous allegations” and the TDP circulating the lab report to back their claim.

Conclusion

The Tirupati laddoo controversy has opened a Pandora’s box, raising questions about the sanctity of the sacred prasadam and the transparency in maintaining its quality. As the political war of words continues to intensify, it remains to be seen whether the High Court probe will shed light on the truth and restore the faith of devotees in the temple’s offerings.