The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s explosive claims about alleged animal fat being used while preparing Laddu Prasadam at the sacred Hindu shrine in the state, Tirupati Balaji Temple, has sparked a bitter controversy, both at political, religious and social levels.
During a meeting to celebrate 100 days of NDA’s regime in Mangalagiri on September 18, Naidu had alleged that the previous YSRCP government compromised the sanctity of the famous Tirupati laddu by using animal fat instead of pure ghee while preparing it. The meeting was attended by members of TDP, Janasena, and BJP. Naidu’s remarks sent shockwaves across the global Hindu community, igniting political and religious uproar.
According to Naidu, the YSRCP administration replaced the long-used Karnataka-based supplier of pure cow ghee with a Tamil Nadu company that allegedly provided adulterated ghee containing animal residues. “The YSRCP government didn’t care about the quality of the laddu. They used animal fat instead of pure ghee and sold these to devotees,” he charged, accusing the former rulers of desecrating one of Hindus’ most sacred offerings. A former member of TTD, Ramana, has corroborated the claims made by Naidu stating that the quality of the
Laddu was indeed compromised during the previous administration.
Outraged at this, millions of Hindus across the world have been targeting YSRCP, further fuelling the controversy.
Meanwhile, the test reports from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat have confirmed the presence of animal fat in the ghee used for preparing the sacred laddu prasadam, validating the serious allegations made by Naidu against the previous YS Jagan government.
The NDDB test results have revealed an appalling list of adulterants in the ghee, including beef tallow and lard, alongside other oils like soybean, rapeseed, and palm. With nearly every parameter failing the standard test values, Hindus are now wondering how such a sacrilegious compromise could have been made at Tirumala temple.
In order to restore the sanctity of the Tirumala temple, TTD performed a major consecration Samprokshanam (also known as Kumbhabhishekam, it is a Hindu temple ritual that’s part of the consecration ceremony for a temple). The consecration was carried out in consultation with Hindu dharmic leaders, including Jeeyars, Kanchi Peethadhipatis, and scholars of Sanatana Dharma, ensuring that decisions respect long-standing customs and uphold the sanctity of one of the Hindutva’s holiest sites.
Naidu has also said that the government is currently holding discussions on other steps that should be taken for the proper consecration of Tirumala. “Our decisions will be guided by religious experts so as to preserve the temple’s sacredness,” he remarked.
While speaking to media, Naidu further elaborated on the steps his government has taken to restore the sanctity of Tirumala. “As soon as we came into power, I instructed the new EO to cleanse Tirumala. He improved the quality of the laddu, blacklisted companies involved in malpractice, and repurchased pure ghee from Nandini. Lord Venkateswara himself may have made me speak the truth about this issue, as we are merely instruments in HIS hands,” Naidu shared, stressing the role of divine intervention in maintaining the purity of the temple’s offerings.
“When the NDDB report on the sacred Tirumala laddu came out, YSRCP dodged accountability. How can cow ghee cost Rs 320 per kg? What’s the need for reverse tenders in the preparation of the laddu offered to Lord Venkateswara? These decisions must be made with great care, as they concern one of our holiest shrines,” Naidu said, urging transparency in matters of religious importance.
He then spoke about the famed Tirumala laddu, challenging any attempts to replicate its unique status. “Many have tried to make a laddu better than the one offered at Tirumala, but has anyone succeeded? For hundreds of years, Tirumala’s laddu has been made there. Even in Ayodhya, they took workers from Tirumala to try and make a similar laddu. Isn’t that prasadam something truly special?” Naidu asked, emphasising the unmatched sanctity of the offering.
With a focus on future steps for consecration and temple maintenance, Naidu reassured the public that his government is committed to preserving the cultural and religious heritage of Tirumala. He talked about plans to conduct quality checks on prasadam and initiate necessary consecration programs across all temples in the state, ensuring that Hindu traditions are respected and upheld.
Questioning the comments made earlier by former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), Naidu said, “In the past, YSR said there were not seven hills, but only two. Why did he undermine the sacredness of Tirumala’s hills? Even at that time, we had opposed him and fought back to protect our traditions.”
Naidu also cited the desecration of Lord Rama’s idol in Ramatheertham, which, he noted, had gone unaddressed. “During the previous government’s rule, many violations occurred in different temples. The government then did not value the sentiments of people and played with their emotions,” he remarked, criticising how the past administration mishandled religious matters.
Drawing attention to customs at Kerala’s Guruvayoor temple, Naidu stated, “In Guruvayoor, devotees must remove their shirts for darshan—that’s the tradition. Why shouldn’t everyone follow it? Shouldn’t every religion’s rituals and customs be respected equally?”
It may be noted that on September 20, TTD‘s Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao had vehemently denied any compromise on the quality of ghee used in its preparation. But amid growing outrage after NDDB report suggesting the presence of animal fat in the laddus, Rao reassured public that the sacred offering was being prepared with utmost sanctity using pure cow ghee. He added that the Chief Minister has issued clear directives to restore the sanctity, purity, and taste of the laddu prasadam, following concerns raised by devotees.
Rao admitted that in the recent past devotees had voiced concerns about the declining quality of the laddu prasadam, which prompted TTD to take swift corrective measures. “We held discussions with potu workers (laddu makers) and for the first time sent ghee samples to external labs for testing,” he explained. The results from the NDDB confirmed the presence of adulterants, leading to the suspension of several ghee suppliers.
The TTD currently sources ghee from five suppliers, including Premier Agri Foods, Kriparam Dairy, Vaishnavi, Sri Parag Milk, and AR Dairy, with prices ranging between Rs 320 to Rs 411 per kilogram. The Board also issued stern warnings to these suppliers and blacklisted those found guilty of adulteration. “We found four tankers of ghee supplied by AR Foods to be substandard, containing elements like lard and beef tallow, which is absolutely unacceptable,” he revealed.
He admitted that the temple’s in-house testing facilities lacked the advanced technology to detect adulteration, which allowed suppliers to exploit these gaps. However, the good thing is that the NDDB has pledgedRs 75 lakh worth of state-of-the-art equipment to upgrade TTD’s ghee testing lab. “This new lab, expected to be operational by this December or January 2025, will enable rigorous testing to ensure only pure cow ghee is used,” Rao affirmed.
Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan’s emotional roar
Reacting to these developments, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan undertook 11-day deeksha from September 22 at the Sri Dasavatara Venkateswara Swami Temple in Namburu, Guntur district. It was an act of repentance for not having detected the adulteration of Tirumala laddu prasadam earlier. He described the contamination was a grave sin committed by individuals with vile intentions, and called it a stain on the Hindu community for failing to identify it sooner. In an emotional outburst on X, he stated “The Tirumala laddu prasadam, regarded as a symbol of purity, has been defiled due to the corrupt practices of previous rulers. It has been contaminated with animal residues—an unholy act that only those with vile intentions could commit.”.
Crypto-Christians in TTD
Six key appointments of Crypto-Christians in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam: A Blatant Attack on Hindutva
1. Crypto-Christian Chairman Appointed
On August 5, 2023, Tirupati MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy was re-appointed as the Chairman of TTD. While Reddy, a Congress appointee during YS Rajasekhar Reddy’s regime, claims to be Hindu, many point out his ties to Christianity. His association with the Christian faith has become a matter of concern, with a viral video showing YS Jagan Reddy’s mother declaring, “We are a Christian family. We go to temples only for Hindu votes.”
2. Christian Teachers in TTD Schools
In January 2023, three Christian teachers were appointed to the TTD-run Sri Venkateswara Higher Secondary School in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. The appointments, made by the State School Education Department, further fuel concerns over the growing encroachment of non-Hindus into Hindu institutions.
3. Crypto-Christian Employee Found Guilty
A July 2020 revelation found that A Rajasekhar Rao, an Assistant Executive Officer in the TTD’s Hundi counting department, had secretly been practicing Christianity. Despite being officially registered as Hindu, Rao was caught attending church services, raising doubts about the integrity of TTD’s staff screening processes.
4. 44 Non-Hindu Staff in TTD
In January 2018, a shocking audit revealed that 44 TTD employees, mostly Christians, were serving in various capacities. Many of these individuals were appointed between 1989 and 2007, suggesting a long-term trend of political maneuvering to appoint non-Hindus in TTD’s sacred precincts.
5. Christian MLA on TTD Trust Board
In 2018, Payakaraopet legislator Vangalapudi Anita, a self-declared Christian, was controversially appointed to the TTD Trust Board. Her open admission of being a devout Christian while serving on a Hindu religious board raised questions about the sincerity of her appointment and the
government’s motives.
6. TTD Officer Using Official Car to Visit Church
In December 2017, TTD’s Deputy Executive Officer, Ms Snehalatha, was found using an official vehicle to visit a Christian Lutheran Church. This she had been with a regularity. Snehalatha’s disdain for Hindu customs – she reportedly refused to take ‘Prasadam’- has left many devotees outraged.
He suggested an idea to constitute a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ at a national level to look into all the issues related to temples across the country, thus inviting nationwide attention to the management and preservation of religious institutions. He even called for a debate that should involve all policy makers, religious heads, judiciary, citizens, media, and others in their respective domains. He said this collective dialogue is essential for addressing the challenges faced by Hindu temples and preserving their sanctity for future generations.
On September 24, Kalyan’s critique extended to the wider implications of the YSRCP’s actions, when he stated, “In this country, secularism cannot work one-way. It must work both ways. Just as they respond to disruptions to the practices and traditions of other religions, they must equally respond when Hindu sentiments, traditions, and dharma are harmed.” He questioned the fear surrounding the discussion of issues related to Islam, positing, “If such an incident had occurred in a mosque or church, would they speak the same way?”
VHP response
The members of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal of Vishva Hindu Parishad have passed a resolution condemning the use of animal fat in Tirumala Tirupati temple laddu prasadam and have demanded autonomy for Hindu temples. The meeting, held on September 23, at Lalitha Peetham in Tirupati, underscored the need for autonomy in managing Hindu temples and addressed the government interference in religious affairs. The Margadarshak Mandal called for a thorough and impartial judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court on a day-to-day basis hearing. It demanded that culprits responsible for this heinous act must be identified and punished to the fullest extent of the law, which would also act as a deterrent against such offenses in future.
Let the Temples be socialised, not Governmentised : Dr Surendra Jain
Vishva Hindu Parishad, seriously agitated by the scandalous defilement of the sacred laddu prasadam – an iconic symbol of faith for millions of devotees – in Tirupati temple, has said today that it is about time governmentalisation of temples were replaced by the socialization of temples! VHP’s Central Joint General Secretary Dr Surendra Jain on September 24, said that a high-level judicial inquiry should be conducted into this unpardonable mischief and sin and the culprits must be given the harshest punishment. Along with this, by involving the devotees of God, such a system should also be ensured in which there is no possibility of such conspiracy.
He said that devout Hindus have immense faith in the purity of the Mahaprasad received from Tirupati Balaji temple. Unfortunately, very sad and heart-rending news is coming about the adulteration of beef tallow, pig fat and fish oil in the A2 ghee used to prepare this Mahaprasad. The Hindu society of the entire country is enraged and the anger of Hindus is manifesting in different forms. There should be a high level judicial investigation into this unfortunate heinous crime and the culprits should be given exacting punishment as soon as possible.
While addressing a press conference today, Dr Jain said that the Tirupati Balaji temple is run by a board set up by the Andhra Pradesh government. Not only were Hindu beliefs tampered with in the matter of making Mahaprasad there, but there are also painful news of misappropriation and misuse of the Dev Rashi (Pranami offerings) and Devdhan (the Deity’s property or estate) offered by Hindus with utmost devotion by government officials and politicians. Many times, there have been news of grants being given from this holy amount to organizations that attack the Sanatana (eternal) Dharma and convert Hindus. Such news is also being received from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
A few days ago, news came that the previous Congress Government of Rajasthan had given Rs 9 crore 82 lakh from the famous Shri Govind Dev Ji temple of Jaipur to an Idgah. These state governments keep
misusing the property and income of temples and have been using them for non-Hindu or in other words
anti-Hindu activities.
The VHP leader said that in our country, the supremacy of the Constitution is repeatedly invoked, but unfortunately, various ‘secular’ governments are controlling the ‘sacred’ temples, which are the centres of Hindu faith, and committing the most despicable fraud with the sentiments of Hindus under the guise of the Constitution. The governments that are formed to protect the Constitution are themselves tearing apart the spirit of the Constitution. By taking over temples (‘secular’ cannot take over the ‘sacred’) for their vested interests, they are openly violating Articles 12, 25 and 26 of the Constitution of Bharat whereas the Hon’ble Judiciary has clarified in many cases that governments should stay away from the management of temples and their property.
Even after 77 years of independence, can’t Hindus be allowed to manage their temples? Minorities are allowed to run their religious institutions, but why are Hindus not being given this constitutional right and being discriminated against?
The Mandal demanded that the state governments should immediately cease their control over Hindu temples and allow Hindu society to manage its own religious institutions. Temples should again become centres of faith and spirituality, managed by dedicated individuals who understand and respect Hindu traditions. To ensure that temples serve the needs of all sections of Hindu society, the gathering proposed the establishment of a Dharmika Parishad Boards that will oversee the management of temples independently. These boards should be composed of representatives from saints, Hindu organisations, scholars, and devotees, ensuring a democratic and inclusive approach to temple management. The meeting was attended by several prominent members, including VHP Secretary General Bajrang Lal Bagra and Bhagyanagar Keshtra Sanghatana Karyadarshi Gummilla Sathyam.
Other participants included Poojya Turyananda Swami Garu from Kadapa, Virajananda Swami Garu from Brahmam Gari Matha, Poojya Kamalananda Bharati Garu from Vijayawada, Poojya Sangram Maharaj Garu from Bhagyanagaram, Swarupananda from Tirupati, Durgananda Puri Garu from Medchal, Yogananda Saraswati Garu from Adilabad, Banaras Swami Garu from Medchal, Shankar Swami Garu from Ananthagiri, Srinivasananda Saraswati Garu from Srikakulam, Mata Shreyananda Garu from Annamayya District, Sri Swami Vishwatmananda Garu from Bhadrachalam, Swami Poornananda Garu from Visakhapatnam, Krishna Maharaj Garu from Indore, and four other Swamijis.
Significantly, former Chief Minister and YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy has issued an eight-page letter clarifying his stance on the ghee adulteration issue at TTD in response to the ongoing controversy. His letter states, “Based on the facts made public, it appears that a ghee tanker that arrived in Tirumala on July 12, 2024, was found to be of questionable quality, failing three tests during an examination. Samples were also sent to the NDDB CALF laboratory on July 17, 2024, and the findings were reported on July 23. The alleged adulterated ghee was rejected and never allowed to enter the TTD premises.” He accused Naidu of being politically motivated, and stated that the CM was diverting public attention from the numerous administrative failures of his government.
Cases filed
President of Virat Hindustan Sangam and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the alleged use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus.
Separately, former TTD Chairman Y V Subba Reddy, a Member of Rajya Sabha, has also moved the apex court seeking a probe by an independent committee under a retired Supreme Court judge.
SIT formed
The Andhra Pradesh government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the allegations of adulteration in the ghee used for making Tirumala Laddu. The team will be led by Sarvashreshtha Tripathi, the Guntur Range IG, as the Chief, with Gopinath Jetty, DIG of the Visakhapatnam Range, and Harshavardhan Raju, SP of Kadapa, as the members.
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