In another unexpected turn of events surrounding the sacred laddu prasadam of the Tirumala Tirupati temple, a devotee has claimed to have found tobacco in the laddu offered at the temple. This incident comes just after concerns were raised about animal fat being used in the preparation of the prasadam.
On September 19, devotee, Donthu Padmavati, a resident of Khammam district, visited the temple and got the prasadam. After her visit to the temple, Padmavati said that she discovered the tobacco while sharing the prasadam with her family, leading to concerns among devotees about the quality of the sacred offering, as reported by India Today.
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This development follows allegations made by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) last week, which claimed that a Gujarat-based laboratory had confirmed adulteration in the laddu, including the presence of animal fat. Andhra Pradesh's political climate has been charged ever since these allegations surfaced, with former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accusing the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of compromising the sanctity of the Tirumala laddus by using substandard ingredients.
Responding to the allegations, the YSRCP leadership has dismissed Naidu's claims, labeling them as "political diversion." YSRCP leader and former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy emphasized that Naidu was using the temple issue for political gain, stating, "It is deplorable to use the name of God for such tactics."
Meanwhile, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has reassured devotees that all necessary steps have been taken to restore the purity and sanctity of the prasadam, urging pilgrims not to lose faith.