Political storm in Andhra Pradesh over Tirupati laddoos: What the row is about

The YSRCP, however, rubbished Naidu’s allegations and challenged the state government to provide evidence till the purported laboratory test results of the ghee used were released by the Telugu Desam Party’s social media accounts on Thursday.

Here’s a round-up of the controversy so far:

What did Naidu say about Tirumala laddoos?

At the NDA legislature party meeting in Amaravati on Wednesday (September 18), Andhra CM Naidu said: “Even Tirumala laddu was made with substandard ingredients… They used animal fat instead of ghee.”

He further said the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led NDA government had sanitised the process and improved the quality of the laddus.

How has Jagan’s party – the YSRCP – reacted to Naidu’s charge?

Senior YSRCP leader Y V Subba Reddy, who is also a former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) which runs the Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati, said: “Naidu will stoop to any level for political gains… His comments are malicious.” The ghee of “top quality” was derived from the milk of indigenous cows of Rajasthan and Gujarat, as per Reddy.

Another former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy went on to say that the officials involved in procuring the ghee had worked both under the previous Naidu government (2014-19) and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP regime (2019-24). No questions were ever raised about the quality, he added.

What animals’ fats were found in the test results?

Later on the same day, state minister and TDP’s national general secretary Nara Lokesh Naidu told The Indian Express that a laboratory test of the ghee used to prepare the laddoos has confirmed the presence of fish oil and beef tallow.

The said ghee samples were sent to NDDB CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food) in Gujarat.

“The tender for procuring the ghee was awarded by the previous government. It is not the KMF (Karnataka Milk Federation). After complaints, it was tested and action was initiated,” Lokesh said on Thursday.

When were the ghee samples sent for testing?

The Water and Food Analysis Laboratory of the independent trust TTD had procured a sample of the ghee and laddoos from Tirumala in the first week of July. It was to Gujarat-based livestock laboratory NDDB CALF, as per TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy.

The sample receipt date on the lab report was July 9, 2024, and the lab report was dated July 16, as per news agency PTI.

Political reactions since release of report findings:

Andhra Deputy CM and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan: On Friday, he said the government is committed to taking stringent action and also called for setting up a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ to look into all issues around temples in the country.

“… The time has come to constitute a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ at a National level to look into all the issues related to temples in entire Bharath,” the minister wrote on X. He said that there’s also a need for a “debate” among policy makers, religious heads, the judiciary, the citizens and the media among others.

Congress:

Reacting to the controversy, the Congress party said a a full-fledged enquiry must identify the guilty.

In a post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera said: “If the claims of desecration of the Tirupati Laddus are right, of course a full fledged enquiry must identify the guilty and strictest possible punishment must be meted out BUT, if the claims are wrong or motivated then, millions of devotees of Tirupati will not forgive those playing with their faith.”

“Until then, it suits the BJP to allow polarising conspiracy theories to fly thick in the air in election season,” it read.

Union Minister Prahlad Joshi:

A day after the revelations, Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday called for an investigation into allegations made by the Andhra CM regarding the use of animal fat in Tirupati laddus. “Whatever the Andhra Chief Minister has said is a matter of serious concern. A detailed enquiry is required and the culprit should be punished,” Joshi said.

Shiv Sena:

Shiv Sena deputy leader Sanjay Nirupam on Friday demanded legal action against former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy for “hurting the sentiments of Hindus” after TDP’s claims that animal fat was used in the  Tirupati laddoos during his tenure.

He also alleged that there was a “big scam” in making the prasadam in Tirupati as everyday 3 lakh such laddoos are made there and a revenue of crores of rupee is earned out of it. “Jagan Mohan Reddy’s previous government (in Andhra Pradesh) should not be forgiven for this sin. Legal action should be taken against him. Jagan Mohan has deliberately deceived both God and the devotees. He has hurt the sentiments of Hindus,” the former MP said.

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