The dispute over the alleged contamination of the famous Tirupati laddoos at Andhra Pradesh’s Tirumala Venkateswara Temple intensified on Friday, with the central government requesting a detailed report on the matter. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed allegations of adulteration made by the previous government led by N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The Tirupati temple administration revealed that tests on the laddoos indicated various forms of contamination, including pig fat, beef tallow, and palm oil. These findings were described as "pathetic" by the management. The laddoo, also known as 'SriVari Laddu', is a sacred offering to Lord Venkateswara and distributed as prasadam to thousands of devotees visiting the temple daily.

Latest Developments in the Tirupati Laddoo Controversy

Former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of politicizing the issue, claiming that the lab reports circulated by the TDP were from Naidu's tenure. Reddy announced plans to write to the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India, seeking action against Naidu for allegedly distorting the facts.

In response, Reddy’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, requesting an investigation by a sitting judge or a committee appointed by the court. The court directed the party to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Wednesday to pursue the matter further.

Shyamala Rao, the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), confirmed that multiple tests had been conducted on the laddoos after the issue was raised. The results, he said, were alarming, and he blamed ghee suppliers for exploiting the temple’s lack of in-house testing facilities.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda also intervened, requesting a report from the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister. The findings will be reviewed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) before any action is taken.

To address the concerns, the Tirupati temple management formed a four-member committee, including dairy experts, to assess the quality of ghee procured for the laddoos. The committee will submit its recommendations within a week, focusing on enhancing ghee procurement standards.

Amid the growing controversy, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan expressed deep concern over the discovery of animal fats in the prasadam. He advocated for the creation of a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ at the national level to address temple-related issues across India.

The Congress party also weighed in, calling for a comprehensive investigation. The party cautioned that if the allegations of adulteration are proven false, it would be seen as a betrayal of the trust of millions of devotees.

In contrast, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu urged a reassessment of the temple’s food offerings, criticizing the deteriorating quality and the use of impure ingredients at one of the country's holiest shrines.

One of the ghee suppliers, AR Dairy, defended its product, asserting that the ghee it provided to the temple had been cleared by authorities. The company, under scrutiny in the wake of the controversy, pointed out that its ghee shipments, made between June and July, were accompanied by accredited lab reports certifying the quality of the product.

The issue gained traction after a report from NDDB CALF, a private laboratory, revealed the presence of foreign fats, including palm oil, fish oil, beef tallow, and lard, in the ghee used for the laddoos. TDP leaders shared the report widely, prompting Naidu to raise the issue during a party meeting, escalating the controversy.