Animal fat in sacred Tirupati laddoo! Political storm erupts as millions of devotees in disbelief

The Tirupati laddoo controversy has erupted in Andhra Pradesh, causing a major uproar across the country. Allegations that animal fat, including lard and beef tallow, were mixed into the ghee used to prepare the sacred laddoos offered at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple have deeply angered devotees. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who raised the issue, pointed fingers at the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) administration, accusing it of allowing the use of adulterated ghee in the laddoos.

Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of foreign fats, leading to public outrage. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) swiftly blacklisted AR Dairy Food Private Limited, one of the suppliers responsible for the adulterated ghee, and promised to pursue legal action. The TTD’s Executive Officer, J. Syamala Rao, acknowledged that the absence of in-house testing facilities contributed to the lapse, but assured the public that they would set up new laboratories to ensure better quality control.

Pawan Kalyan’s call for national action

Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, voiced his concerns, describing the incident as a desecration of religious practices. He proposed the creation of a “Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board” at the national level to oversee temple practices and prevent such violations in the future. Kalyan criticised the YSRCP government, highlighting its role in allowing such serious lapses in quality control. He also assured that the state government would take strict actions against all parties responsible.

Central government’s response

The controversy caught the attention of the central government as well, with BJP National President JP Nadda calling for detailed reports on the matter from Naidu. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, described the use of animal fat in the laddoo as a betrayal of Hindu faith, ensuring that the central government would coordinate with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to take corrective measures.

YSRCP’s counterclaims and calls for investigation

The YSRCP, meanwhile, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated. The party has filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, seeking an impartial investigation. The Congress Party, led by YS Sharmila, has gone a step further, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the scandal to ensure transparency and accountability.

Expert opinions and future measures

Food safety experts have urged stricter controls over the production of temple offerings, highlighting the importance of regular and transparent testing. A dairy expert stressed that setting up an in-house laboratory is essential to prevent future adulteration and to restore public trust in temple management.

The controversy has left millions of devotees shaken, with many questioning how such a grave violation of religious and food safety standards could have occurred. As legal and political battles continue, the TTD is now focused on regaining the trust of devotees, promising better oversight and stricter quality checks in the future.