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A political storm has erupted in Andhra Pradesh over allegations that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddoos, a sacred prasadam offered at the famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation into the matter, escalating the controversy further.
Swamy's petition, filed on Monday, demands a comprehensive report from the Andhra Pradesh government outlining the sources and testing procedures for the ghee used in the laddoos. He also urges the court to order a thorough forensic analysis of the ingredients by relevant authorities. The petition emphasizes the need for strict internal controls to ensure the quality of ingredients supplied to the temple for prasadam production.
The controversy began when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu claimed that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddoos during the tenure of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the leader of the YSR Congress Party. This allegation sparked a heated political dispute, with the YSR Congress Party accusing Naidu of making baseless claims for political gain. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) countered by circulating a laboratory report to substantiate its claims.
Two days after the allegations surfaced, on September 20, the TTD Executive Officer J. Shyamala Rao held a press conference. She announced that lab tests had indeed detected animal fat and lard in the tested samples of ghee. Rao further stated that the TTD board was in the process of blacklisting the contractor responsible for supplying the adulterated ghee.
In a separate development, Y.V. Subba Reddy, a former Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and a Member of Rajya Sabha, also approached the Supreme Court seeking an inquiry by an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. The controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddoos has shaken the faith of devotees and ignited a fierce political battle in Andhra Pradesh. With Swamy's petition, the matter is now in the hands of the Supreme Court, which will determine the course of action regarding the investigation and the allegations.