The YSR Congress accused Mr. Naidu of violating the sanctity of Tirumala.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made a shocking claim that animal fat was used to make Tirupati laddoos under the previous YSR Congress-led government. The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party has dismissed the allegation and termed it malicious.
Addressing an NDA party meeting on Wednesday, Mr Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party came to power in Andhra Pradesh in June in an alliance with the Jana Sena and the BJP, said animal fat was used to make the sought-after laddoos given as 'prasad' by the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati under the Jagan Reddy government. The temple is managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
“In the last five years, the YSR Congress Party leaders have defiled the sanctity of Tirumala. They have compromised on the quality of 'Annadanam' (free meals) and even contaminated the sacred Tirumala Laddu by using animal fat instead of ghee. This revelation has raised concerns. However, we are now using pure ghee. We strive to protect the sanctity of the TTD,” Mr Naidu said in Telugu.
Senior YSR Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy accused Mr. Naidu of harming the sanctity of the Tirumala shrine.
“Chandrababu Naidu has seriously damaged the sanctity of Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus. His remarks on Tirumala prasad are extremely malicious. No one would utter such words or make such allegations,” Mr. Reddy wrote in Telugu on X.
“It has once again been proven that Chandrababu Naidu will stoop to any level for political gains. To strengthen the faith of the devotees, I, along with my family, am ready to take an oath before the almighty regarding the Tirumala 'prasad'. Is Chandrababu Naidu ready to do the same with his family,” he asked.
