Hyderabad: Accusations on the Tirupati laddu, initially made by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on September 18, have snowballed into a political controversy that have called the original claims to question. Naidu had first said that the ghee used in making the laddus was adulterated with animal fat – an allegation he has since walked back on. However, this claim led to an unleashing of outrage.
By September 19, Naidu had modified his stance, stating only that the ghee’s quality was substandard, without repeating the animal fat claim. Former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy then seized on this inconsistency to question Naidu’s credibility.
“It’s impossible for adulterated ghee with animal fat to be used in Tirumala laddus,” Jagan declared at a September 20 press conference.
He highlighted Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s long-standing protocols that subject all ingredients to rigorous testing. “TTD’s robust quality checks make such adulteration impossible,” he added, arguing that Naidu’s claims aimed to incite public unrest and deflect attention from his own administrative shortcomings.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 22, 2024, Jagan urged the Union government to intervene, calling on Modi to reprimand Naidu for spreading “blatant lies.” Jagan highlighted that lab tests conducted in July 2024 – months before Naidu’s allegations – had confirmed the presence of vegetable fats, not animal fats, in the ghee.
He stressed that the TTD’s quality control mechanisms had rejected the adulterated ghee from A.R. Dairy Foods well before the laddus were distributed to devotees. “Naidu’s statements have already caused confusion and distress among devotees,” Jagan wrote. “The truth is that the TTD’s safeguards ensured that the questionable ghee was never used in making the sacred laddus.”
Jagan contended that Naidu’s actions were calculated to tarnish his party’s reputation and deflect attention from the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) governance failures. He also emphasised that Naidu’s behaviour was disrespectful to Hindu religious practices, asserting, “It is crucial that political leaders like Naidu avoid making irresponsible statements that could undermine the sanctity of our religious institutions.”
Jagan’s defence has been reinforced by the Ghee Committee’s draft report, which was first made available by the news portal SouthFirst. It was submitted earlier in September but not made public until the news website provided a link to it. It confirmed that no animal fat had ever been used in preparing the laddus and that the TTD’s procurement process had consistently adhered to strict quality control guidelines.
Also read: Explained: Chandrababu Naidu, the Tirupati Laddu, and Why the Fat Is in the Fire
Jagan and TTD’s integrity
Jagan emphasised that stringent procurement processes have been consistently in place, spanning both his tenure and Naidu’s previous administration. He noted that TTD had rejected substandard ghee batches multiple times, stating, “This is routine, not unprecedented.”
In his letter, Jagan not only denied the allegations but also urged Modi to take decisive action against Naidu. He accused Naidu of exploiting the sacred Tirumala laddus for political gain. “Naidu has stooped so low as to hurt the beliefs of crores of people purely for political objectives,” Jagan wrote. He described Naidu’s claims as “reckless” and warned they could inflame religious sentiments among millions of Hindu devotees.
Jagan emphasised in his letter that the TTD operates independently, governed by a board of trustees including eminent devotees from across the country. “Naidu’s claims are a direct affront to the faith of Hindus everywhere,” Jagan asserted. He further pressed Modi to hold Naidu accountable for spreading misinformation and undermining public trust in religious institutions.
Jagan’s letter appears to be a strategic political move, aimed not only at countering Naidu’s allegations but also at positioning himself as a defender of the TTD’s integrity. “This baseless claim hurts the sentiments of millions of devotees,” he stated, calling for a national inquiry to dispel the accusations and restore public confidence.
Pawan Kalyan
Amidst the controversy, deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan embarked on an 11-day penance, portraying the alleged desecration of the laddus as a grave offence against Sanatana Dharma. Kalyan’s ‘Praschit Deeksha’ sought to atone for what he deemed was the previous administration’s failure to maintain the offerings’ “purity”.
His statements highlighted the controversy’s communal undertones, with him saying that “the nation would have reacted differently had such an incident occurred in mosques or churches.”
Kalyan’s appeal to Hindu sentiments and call for religious accountability intensified the communal sensitivities surrounding the issue, particularly given his proximity to the BJP. Social media is already abuzz, glorifying Pawan as the saviour of Sanatana Dharma and Hinduism.
Clamour for probe
The controversy has also drawn in Y.S. Sharmila, Jagan’s sister and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president. On September 21, Sharmila met with Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and formally requested a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged adulteration. She argued that only an independent, comprehensive investigation could resolve the issue and ensure accountability.
“Tirumala is one of the most sacred places in the country, and it must remain free from political interference or acts of desecration,” Sharmila stated.
BJP leaders have also joined the fray. Senior party figures have demanded action against Jagan and his allies, accusing them of mishandling the temple’s administration and disrespecting Hindu traditions. For the BJP, this controversy presents an opportunity to strengthen its support base by positioning itself as a defender of Hindu religious practices.
Naidu announces rituals
Undeterred by the backlash, Chandrababu Naidu announced on September 22 that the Andhra Pradesh government would establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. Led by an Inspector General of Police, the SIT will investigate the procurement and testing practices at TTD, aiming to ensure accountability for any individuals or entities involved in the alleged adulteration.
In tandem with launching the SIT, Naidu declared that the Tirumala temple would undergo “purification rituals” to cleanse it of any spiritual impurity linked to the scandal. These rituals, known as “santhi homam” and “panchagavya prokshana,” are scheduled for September 23. “The purity of the Tirumala temple must be restored,” Naidu asserted.
Naidu has framed the controversy as part of a broader governance failure under Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership. He alleged that the YSRCP government’s cost-cutting measures led to the procurement of substandard ghee at suspiciously low prices, compromising the quality of the Tirumala laddus. Naidu contended that these lapses reflect a wider neglect of religious practices during Jagan’s term.
“Why did the government pursue reverse tendering for such a vital commodity?” Naidu questioned, implying that political expediency – rather than religious sanctity – drove the YSRCP’s decisions. He also criticised Jagan’s defence of key TTD figures, Y.V. Subba Reddy and Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, accusing them of failing to uphold Hindu traditions due to their Christian background.
