GUWAHATI: The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh has stirred controversy by claiming that the sacred Tirupati laddu, offered to devotees at the famous Tirumala temple, was prepared using adulterated ghee containing animal fats, including beef tallow, lard (pig fat), and fish oil.
The claim, made on the basis of an alleged lab report from a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, has ignited a political storm.
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TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy showcased the purported lab report during a press conference, alleging that the ghee samples provided by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) revealed the presence of "non-vegetarian fats." He further cited that the S value—a measure used to determine fat content—was only 19.7, suggesting a serious compromise in the quality of the sacred offering.
The controversy gained further momentum after former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, of using animal fat in the preparation of the laddus during their tenure.
However, the YSRCP has hit back strongly, calling the allegations baseless and accusing Naidu of fabricating a “heinous narrative” for political mileage. "These claims are not only false but an affront to the religious sentiments of millions of devotees," said a YSRCP spokesperson. As of now, neither the Andhra Pradesh government nor the TTD has provided an official response or confirmation regarding the lab report.