Animal Fat Instead Of Ghee Was Used In Tirupati Laddus Under Jagan Government, Alleges Andhra CM Naidu; YSRCP Denies Claim

Controversy has erupted after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddoos during the tenure of the previous YSR Congress government.

The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party dismissed the claim and termed it malicious.

Speaking at an NDA legislative party meeting on Wednesday (18 September), Naidu, who returned to power in June with the support of Jana Sena and the BJP, claimed that the famed Tirupati laddoos, distributed as 'prasad' at the Sri Venkateswara Temple, were made using animal fat under the Jagan Reddy government.

The temple falls under the management of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

"In the past 5 years, YSR Congress party leaders have tarnished the sanctity of Tirumala. They compromised on the quality of 'Annadanam' (free meals) and even contaminated the sacred Tirumala Laddu by using animal fat instead of ghee. This revelation has caused concern. However, we are now using pure ghee. We are striving to protect the sanctity of the TTD," Naidu said in Telugu, NDTV reported.

YSR Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Y V Subba Reddy fired back at Naidu, accusing him of harming the sanctity of the Tirumala temple through his remarks.

"Chandrababu Naidu has severely damaged the sanctity of Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus. His comments about the Tirumala prasad are extremely malicious. No person would speak such words or make such accusations," Reddy wrote in Telugu on X.

"It has been proven again that Chandrababu Naidu will stoop to any level for political gain. To strengthen the faith of the devotees, I, along with my family, am ready to take an oath before the almighty regarding the Tirumala 'prasad'. Is Chandrababu Naidu willing to do the same with his family," he asked.

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