On September 18, Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat was used instead of ghee in the preparation of laddus served as prasad at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala during the previous YSR Congress government.
Naidu labeled this act a sacrilege and claimed that the current administration has now ensured the use of pure ghee. These allegations were made while addressing an NDA legislative party meeting.
“They (YSRC government) not only provided substandard food to the devotees, such as Anna Prasadam in Tirumala, but also used inferior quality ingredients to make Prasadam, which is offered to Lord Venkateswara. Instead of using pure ghee, they used animal fat,”
Animal fat was used instead of Ghee for preparing Laddus in Tirumala by Jagan Govt : CM CBN. pic.twitter.com/ezmJnefxDX
— Karthik Reddy (@bykarthikreddy) September 18, 2024
the Chief Minister alleged in Telugu.
The TDP further supported Naidu’s allegations by displaying a ‘lab report’ that purportedly confirmed the adulteration in the prasad.
TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy presented this report from a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, NDDB CALF Ltd, which allegedly found “beef tallow” in the ghee samples.
The report also claimed the presence of “lard” (pig fat) and fish oil. The sample was received on July 9, and the report was dated July 16. However, there was no official confirmation of this report from either the state government or the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
YV Subba Reddy, a senior YSR Congress leader and former TTD chairman, dismissed Naidu’s claims as “malicious.” He accused the TDP chief of using such allegations for political gain. Subba Reddy challenged Naidu to take an oath before the deity to prove his claims, asserting his own willingness to do so.
Amidst the controversy, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh also criticized the YSR Congress government, saying they had disrespected the religious sentiments of devotees.
“The Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the Jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati prasad,”
The lord venkateswara swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the @ysjagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the tirupati Prasadam. Shame on @ysjagan and the @ysrcparty government that couldn’t respect the religious… pic.twitter.com/UDFC2WsoLP
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) September 18, 2024
Lokesh said.
In response, YV Subba Reddy rejected the allegations and warned of a defamation case against Naidu if he failed to provide proof. Reddy further accused Naidu of tarnishing the sanctity of the Tirumala temple for political reasons.
The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most revered Hindu temples globally, known for its “Laddu Prasadam” and attracting millions of devotees each year.
Source: OpIndia
