A major political controversy erupted in Andhra Pradesh after former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, of using animal fat in the famous Tirupati temple laddus. Naidu’s claim, made during an NDA legislative party meeting, alleged that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used during YSRCP’s tenure in the making of the laddus at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.
In response, the YSRCP condemned Naidu’s accusations, calling them “heinous allegations” aimed at political gain. Senior YSRCP leader YV Subba Reddy, who served as the chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), dismissed the claims, stating that such accusations hurt the sentiments of devotees and undermined the sanctity of the temple.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), however, circulated a lab report to back Naidu’s claims. According to the report from a Gujarat-based livestock lab, traces of “lard” (pig fat) and fish oil were found in the ghee samples used for making the sacred prasadam. Despite this, there has been no official confirmation from the Andhra Pradesh government or the TTD.
TDP ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also called for legal action, citing the hurt feelings of the Hindu community. As the row intensifies, Naidu has vowed to restore the temple’s sanctity, while YSRCP continues to refute the allegations.