Tirumala Tirupati Laddu Row: Andhra Deputy CM Calls For 'Sanatana Rakshana Board', Temple Union Criticises CM

Tirumala Tirupati Laddu: The controversy has also drawn political reactions with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accusing the previous YSRCP government of mishandling temple affairs.

Tirumala Tirupati Laddu: In a recent controversy surrounding the laddu provided as prasad at Tirumala temple, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has called for the establishment of a national-level 'Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board'. This call comes in response to allegations that the famous Tirumala laddoo prasadam was adulterated with animal fat. A laboratory report from a Gujarat-based facility has reportedly confirmed the presence of beef tallow and fish oil in the ghee used to prepare the prasadam, a claim that has sparked outrage among devotees.

In a social media post, Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan expressed deep concern over the incident, stating, "We are all disturbed by the findings of animal fat mixed in Tirupati Balaji Prasad. This raises many questions about temple desecration, land issues, and other dharmic practices."

"Many be the time has come to constitute a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ at a National level to look into all the issues related to temples in entire Bharath," he said.

Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, condemned the act, labeling it a "betrayal." He said, "This is a serious crime and has hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees. If true, it is an unforgivable offense, and those responsible should face stringent punishment."

TTD Employee's Union Criticizes CM

The President of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Employees' Union, Kandarapu Murali, has strongly criticized Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's remarks regarding the use of animal fat in the preparation of Tirumala laddu. Murali has termed these comments as an insult to TTD employees and has questioned why the Chief Minister chose to make public statements instead of taking action against those responsible.

The controversy has also drawn political reactions, with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accusing the previous YSRCP government of mishandling temple affairs. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson, Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy, presented the laboratory report that allegedly confirmed the presence of animal fat in the laddoos.

The report from the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) reportedly indicated that beef tallow and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee supplied to the Tirumala temple. "The lab tests certify the use of these ingredients, with the ghee's S-value measured at 19.7," stated Reddy, raising concerns over the integrity of temple practices.