Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed serious concern on Friday about allegations that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the previous YSRCP government.
Kalyan stated, “We are all deeply disturbed with the findings of animal fat (fish oil, pork fat, and beef fat) mixed in Tirupati Balaji Prasad. Many questions need to be answered by the TTD board constituted by the YCP government then. Our government is committed to taking stringent action possible. But, this sheds light on many issues surrounding the desecration of temples, its land issues, and other dharmic practices.”
He suggested the establishment of a “Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board” at the national level to address temple-related issues throughout India. “A debate has to happen at a national level among policymakers, religious leaders, the judiciary, citizens, media, and others. We all should come together to put an end to the desecration of Sanatana Dharma in any form,” he added.
A report from NDDB CALF, a private lab that tests animal feed and dairy products, revealed that samples of ghee used in making the laddus contained foreign fats, including palm oil, fish oil, beef tallow, and lard. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy shared the report.
#WATCH | Amaravati: On Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row, Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan says, "…The quality of prasad is always quite superior and if you get even a small byte, it is like a mahaprasad to everybody. It was done with great reverence. The material chosen for… pic.twitter.com/PFmCa2KRih
— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2024
Andhra IT Minister Nara Lokesh also criticized the previous government, stating he was shocked to discover the alleged use of animal fat instead of ghee. In contrast, senior YSRCP leader YV Subba Reddy, who led the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams under the previous government, dismissed these allegations as “malicious.”