The Supreme Court will hear the controversy over the alleged use of animal fat in Tirupati laddoos on Monday(September 30). This issue has sparked a political debate and led to petitions for a probe into the claims surrounding the revered temple offering.
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NEW DELHI: The ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the revered Tirupati laddoos has reached the Supreme Court, where it will be heard on Monday(30th Sept). The laddoos, a prized offering or ‘prasad’ at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, have been at the center of a heated political battle since accusations emerged about the ingredients used in their preparation. The matter has led to a fierce exchange between key political figures, with petitions now submitted to the apex court seeking a probe into the claims.
The controversy was initially ignited by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who alleged that animal fat had been used in making the laddoos during the tenure of the previous government, led by YSR Congress Party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. Two prominent figures have since taken legal action, filing petitions before the Supreme Court. One of them, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, and the other, YV Subba Reddy, a former chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and a Rajya Sabha MP from the YSR Congress Party.
Both petitions are scheduled for a hearing before a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan. Both Swamy and Subba Reddy have sought an independent and court-monitored investigation into the serious allegations.
Subramanian Swamy’s Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed earlier this week, seeks the Supreme Court’s intervention to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to submit a comprehensive report on the ghee used in making the laddoos. The PIL also calls for a forensic examination to determine the truth behind the allegations. According to reports, the Andhra Pradesh government cited a laboratory analysis from Gujarat, which allegedly revealed the presence of animal-derived substances like beef tallow, fish oil, and lard (pig fat) in the ghee used for the laddoos.
“There should have been internal checks and balances to oversee, verify, and ensure the quality of the ingredients supplied to the temple for making the prasad.”
– Swamy’s petition stated.
Meanwhile, YV Subba Reddy also submitted his own PIL, demanding the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the issue. He has specifically requested that the SIT be monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge to ensure impartiality and transparency. Reddy has vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged adulteration, and he has repeatedly emphasized that the ghee used for the laddoos was pure and untainted during the time his party was in power.
As the laddoo controversy continues to dominate headlines, the political rivalry between Jagan Mohan Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu has become more pronounced. On Friday(27th Sept), the two leaders clashed over a planned visit by Jagan Mohan Reddy to the Tirupati temple, where he intended to “atone” for the alleged “sin” committed by Naidu in making the accusations. However, Reddy claimed that he was denied permission to visit the temple and was served a notice prohibiting his entry.
Mr. Reddy explained-
“All the statements made by Naidu regarding the laddoos are turning out to be lies one after another. He has erred and disrespected the sanctity of the temple. Having visited the Tirumala temple multiple times, I see that he is now using the declaration issue to divert attention once again. The Tirumala laddoo is special and pure, and his claim that it is made with animal fat is politically motivated.”
Adding fuel to the political fire, the issue of a declaration for non-Hindus visiting the temple emerged as another point of contention. According to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, non-Hindus and foreigners must sign a declaration affirming their reverence for Lord Venkateswara before offering prayers. Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the BJP have demanded that Jagan Mohan Reddy sign the declaration before his visit, a move perceived as an attempt to discredit Reddy’s temple visit.
Reddy, who called the declaration issue a “diversionary tactic,” accused Naidu of trying to shift the focus away from the laddoo controversy and his government’s performance.
“He has erred and disrespected the sanctity of the temple… Now, he is raising the declaration issue to divert attention once again.”
– Reddy said.
In a sharp retort, Naidu denied Reddy’s allegations, claiming that no notice was served to prevent Reddy from visiting the temple. He dismissed Reddy’s claims as “lies” and challenged him to provide evidence.
“Did anyone prevent you, Mr. Reddy, from going? If you have the notice, show it to the media… Why are you spreading falsehoods?”
-Naidu said in a scathing response.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has maintained that the controversy surrounding the laddoos is politically motivated and has been manufactured to divert attention from Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership performance during his tenure as chief minister. He has repeatedly affirmed the purity of the Tirupati laddoos, asserting that no animal-derived ingredients were used.
