Tirupati prasad controversy: Lab report fuels debate over animal fat allegations, Andhra CM Slams YRS Congress

The report indicated the ghee contained traces of fish oil, beef tallow, and lard; the last is a semi-solid white fat product obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched a scathing attack against YSR Congress and his predecessor, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, over a lab report about animal fats in ghee used to make laddoos offered as prasadam at the temple town of Tirupati.

Naidu alleged that substandard ingredients and animal fat were used in making the famous Tirupati laddu, a consecrated sweet, during the previous YSRCP government. However, the party (YSRCP), has rejected the claim.

A report from the Centre of Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food, or CALF, lab at Gujarat’s National Dairy Development Board revealed the presence of animal fat in ghee used to produce the famed Tirupati laddoos when the YSRCP was in power.

The report indicated the ghee contained traces of fish oil, beef tallow, and lard; the last is a semi-solid white fat product obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig.

The Tirupati Laddu prasadam is given at the revered Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, which is run by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

“Even Tirumala laddu was made with substandard ingredients…they used animal fat instead of ghee,” claimed Naidu while addressing an NDA legislature party meeting here.

The CM asserted that pure ghee was now being used and everything has been sanitised at the temple, leading to improved quality.

However, senior YSRCP leader and former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy termed Naidu’s allegation as “malicious” and said that the TDP supremo would “stoop to any level for political gain”.

Taking to X, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh targeted the Jagan Mohan Reddy administration over the issue.

“The Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam,” he said in a post on X.

Targeting the erstwhile YSRCP government, Lokesh alleged that it could not respect the religious sentiments of crores of devotees.

YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Subba Reddy, who served as the chairman of TTD for two terms, alleged that Naidu had severely damaged the sanctity of the holy Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus with his comments.

“His comments about the Tirumala prasadam are extremely malicious. No person would speak such words or make such accusations,” said Subba Reddy in a post on X.

The former TTD chairman threw a challenge to the CM that he would take an oath over this issue along with his family before the deity to strengthen the faith of devotees and asked if Naidu would do the same.