Nadda seeks report from Andhra on animal fat in Tirupati laddoos

Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday said he had sought a full report on the alleged use of animal fat being used in preparation of laddoos at Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati temple.

“I have asked Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu to send the entire report. I will examine the report and suitable action under law will be taken,” Nadda said.

The development comes a day after Naidu alleged that animal fat was used in the preparation of laddoos at the temple instead of ghee during the previous government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The issue has snowballed, inviting sharp political reactions. Food Minister Prahlad Joshi and Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh demanded an investigation into the matter.

Singh said, “The previous government didn’t procure ghee from Shreeja, the world’s largest only women-owned organisation. The CBI should probe at what price the ghee was procured and why fat-laced ghee was used. It is a grave injustice to the Hindu community.”

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president YS Sharmila urged the Centre to order a CBI inquiry into the matter. In a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, she said that Naidu’s allegation comes amidst a series of complaints about the quality of laddoos that are served as ‘prasadam’ over the past few years, yet no investigation has been initiated by any government.

She highlighted that the seriousness of the CM’s statement was amplified by the TDP’s claims of a laboratory report from NDDB CALF Ltd, indicating the presence of beef tallow and possibly other animal fats in ghee samples. However, there has been no official confirmation from the state government or the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board, she added.

TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said the government had ordered a lab test as there were apprehensions about the quality of ‘prasad’.

“The rates quoted by tenderers are very low and unviable. We had warned all suppliers that they will be blacklisted if the ghee supplied by them doesn’t pass the lab test. We eventually sent all samples for testing in a government-controlled lab, and the reports are shocking,” Rao added.

CJI’s intervention sought

A letter petition has been filed in the SC seeking the intervention of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. “This is a criminal conspiracy which resulted from mismanagement and has deeply hurt Hindu sentiments,” said the petitioner.