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Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu said the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala is the most sacred in the state. (Image: PTI/File)
Stirring up a controversy, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu said he was “shocked to learn” that the previous government could not respect the religious sentiments of Hindu deity Venkateswara’s followers
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has accused the previous YSRCP government of using animal fat instead of ghee to prepare the Tirupati laddu prasadam, which is offered to crores of followers visiting the Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala.
Stirring up a controversy, Naidu said he was “shocked to learn” this about the Jagan administration. He said the previous government should be ashamed that it could not respect the religious sentiments of Venkateswara’s followers.
“The Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the Jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati prasadam. Shame on Jagan and the YSRCP government that couldn’t respect the religious sentiments of crores of devotees,” Naidu said during a public meeting.
The lord venkateswara swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the @ysjagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the tirupati Prasadam. Shame on @ysjagan and the @ysrcparty government that couldn’t respect the religious… pic.twitter.com/UDFC2WsoLP— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) September 18, 2024
But, the YSRCP was quick to respond, saying Naidu can “go down to any level for the benefit of politics”. Rajya Sabha MP of the YSRCP, YV Subba Reddy said by doing this, the chief minister has damaged the “sanctity of the divine temple Tirumala and the faith of hundreds of crores of Hindus”.
“…Naidu’s remarks regarding Tirumala prasadam are truly vile. No one born of human birth speaks such words or makes such accusations. It has been proved once again that he will not hesitate to go down to any level for the benefit of politics. To strengthen the faith of the devotees, I and my family are ready to take an oath as witnesses of that God in the case of Tirumala prasadam. Is Naidu also ready to take oath with his family?” asked the leader, who is a former chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the board that manages the hill shrine.
దివ్య క్షేత్రం తిరుమల పవిత్రతను, వందలకోట్లమంది హిందువుల విశ్వాసాలను చంద్రబాబునాయుడు దారుణంగా దెబ్బతీసి పెద్ద పాపమే చేశాడు. తిరుమల ప్రసాదంపై చంద్రబాబు చేసిన వ్యాఖ్యలు అత్యంత దుర్మార్గం. మనిషి పుట్టుక పుట్టినవారెవ్వరూ కూడా ఇలాంటి మాటలు మాట్లాడరు, ఇలాంటి ఆరోపణలు చేయరు.1/2— Y V Subba Reddy (@yvsubbareddymp) September 18, 2024
This is not the first time questions have been raised on the laddu prasadam distributed among followers at the Tirumala temple. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has, in the past, harshly criticised the alleged severe compromise in its quality.
Over the years, there were no procedures at the TTD to test cheese quality from which ghee is made for the ‘Srivari’ laddus. But, the board has now set up a new sensory perception laboratory, where staff is being trained to carry out quality checks in Mysuru.