Animal Fat In Tirumala Prasad: A Timeline Of Events So Far

18 September

Naidu Says Prasad Adulterated

At a legislature party meeting in Vijayawada on Wednesday, marking 100 days of the NDA regime in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that ghee used in the prasadam at the Tirupati Tirumala temple during the previous YSR Congress Party's tenure was adulterated with animal fat.

Naidu’s claims sent shockwaves not just in Andhra but throughout India and sparked a heated political exchange. 

Former Chairman of TTD Board react

YSR Congress Party leaders Y.V. Subba Reddy and Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, both former Chairpersons of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board, pushed back strongly against Naidu's claims.

"Chandrababu Naidu has severely damaged the sanctity of Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus. His comments are extremely malicious," stated Subba Reddy in Telugu post on X. “To strengthen the faith of the devotees, I and my family are ready to take an oath before Bhagwan Venkateswara. Is Chandrababu also ready to take oath with his family?”, he added. 

Karunakar Reddy called the allegations a direct attack on the Hindu community. He emphasized that Tirumala Prasadam is prepared by Srivaishnava clan members, and dismissed any involvement by the trust board or its officials in the process.

19 September

TDP shares report mentioning adulteration

TDP spokesperson Anam Venkatararamana Reddy made public copies of a document which he claimed was the report of the tests conducted on the prasadam at the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat. This document says that the ‘sample’, which in the current is the Tirupati prasadam, did indeed contain beef tallow, lard, and fish oil. 

Beef tallow is the fat of a cow and lard is the fat of pork. 

“The lab reports of samples which were sent for testing to National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat certify that beef tallow and animal fat - lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee which was supplied to Tirumala and also the S value is only 19.7...This is an affront to Hindu religion...The 'prasadam' which is offered to the Lord thrice a day has been mixed with this ghee...We hope that justice will be done and Lord Govind will forgive us for whatever mistakes that have been committed”, Reddy said. 

KMF denies supplying ghee

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Milk Federation reacted to the controversy and clarified that they had not supplied ghee to the TTD in the last four years. They had only started their supply to Tirumala after the TDP had come to power in the state, that is the last four months. 

No statement yet from TTD

Even as outrage over the adulteration of prasad grew, there was no official statement on the issue by the current office bearers of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, the governing body of Tirumala temple.

BJP, Congress Demand Investigation

BJP Andhra spokesperson G. Bhanuprakash Reddy called for a thorough probe, accusing the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government of being "blatantly anti-Hindu" and mismanaging TTD’s funds. He also raised concerns about the ghee supply chain, urging tenders be given to cooperative societies in the cow belt region.

Congress state Vice-President Doddareddy Rambhupal Reddy also demanded a CBI investigation, stressing the need for a formal probe if Mr. Naidu stood by his allegations.