Tirupati Laddu row: TTD backs Naidu's claim of animal fat, Jagan slams CM for 'diversion politics'

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The controversy surrounding the sacred Tirupati Laddu, the prasadam (consecrated food) offered at the renowned Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati, has escalated into a national issue. On Friday, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the body managing the super-rich shrine, confirmed the presence of substandard ghee and lard in samples tested for quality, validating claims made earlier by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

J Shyamala Rao, Executive Officer of TTD addressed a press conference in Tirupati, revealing that laboratory tests had detected the presence of animal fat and lard in selected ghee samples. "All four reports of samples gave similar results," Rao stated, adding that the TTD had immediately halted supplies from the implicated contractor and initiated blacklisting procedures. The official said that legal action would follow, including the imposition of penalties.

The controversy first gained traction when Chief Minister Naidu, during an NDA legislative party meeting on Wednesday alleged that the previous YSRCP government had compromised the quality of ingredients used in making the famous Tirupati Laddu. Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients and animal fat were used in the preparation of the sweet, known for its unique taste and considered sacred by millions of devotees.