Tirupati laddu has 'beef tallow': TDP shows 'lab report' after Andhra Pradesh CM claims; YSRCP reacts

Tirupati temple ladoo row: When Yasirseep accused Chandrababu Naidu of being involved in "heinous allegations" and eagerly circulated a lab report to back up the claim.

A major political controversy erupted in Andhra Pradesh after Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that animal fat was used in Tirupati temple laddus during the previous YSRCP government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (PTI)

Amid the controversy, the ruling Telugu Desam Party on Thursday claimed that adulteration has been confirmed by a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory. TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy at a press conference displayed a purported lab report that apparently confirmed the presence of "beef tallow" in a given ghee sample, news agency PTI reported.

On Wednesday, N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that "animal fat" was used instead of ghee in the ladoo offered at the Tirupati temple.

10 Updates on Tirupati Ladoo row:

While the YSRCP accused Chandrababu Naidu of indulging in "heinous allegations" for political gain, the TDP circulated a lab report to back the claim.

During the NDA legislative party meeting on Wednesday, Naidu claimed that the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government did not even spare the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati and used secondary ingredients and animal fat to make laddus.

TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy claimed that adulteration was confirmed by a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory on samples of ghee supplied by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.

This lab report also claimed the presence of "fat" (related to pork fat) and fish oil in the samples. The sample receipt date was July 9, 2024 and the lab report date was July 16.

However, there is no official confirmation on the lab report from the Andhra Pradesh government or the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, PTI reported.

Laboratory--CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food) is a multi-disciplinary analytical laboratory at NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) located in Anand, Gujarat.

On Thursday, Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the previous YSRCP government had desecrated Tirumala, but noted that the cleaning process had begun.

Reacting to the development, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh noted that the lab reports clearly established that beef fat, fish oil and lard were used to make the ladoo.

TDP ally Bharatiya Janata Party also demanded legal action. Speaking to ANI, BJP OBC Front President K Laxman said that the sentiments of the Hindu community have been hurt. BJP MLA in Telangana Raja Singh said the alleged use of "beef fat and fish oil" in making the sacred laddu prasadam during the previous YSR Congress regime is a direct attack on our rich cultural and religious heritage which cannot and should not be tolerated. . .

Senior YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha member YV Subba Reddy, who served as TTD chairman for four years, noted that Naidu's allegations have tarnished the sacred nature of the deity and hurt the sentiments of devotees. PTI quoted Reddy as saying, "It is unthinkable to even say that animal fat was used in the sacred food offered to the deity and in the ladoo served to the devotees. There is no other heinous attempt than allegations of animal fat being used."