Tirupati laddus contain 'beef tallow': TDP shows 'lab report' after Andhra Pradesh chief minister's claim; YSRCP responds | 10 Updates | Latest India News

Amid the controversy, the ruling Telugu Desam Party on Thursday claimed that the adulteration had been confirmed by a Gujarat-based cattle breeding laboratory. TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy at a press conference showed the purported lab report, which apparently confirmed the presence of “beef tallow” in the ghee sample in question, news agency PTI reported.

On Wednesday, N Chandrababu Naidu had alleged that “animal fat” was being used instead of ghee in the laddus offered at the Tirupati shrine.

10 updates on the Tirupati Laddus controversy:

1. While the YSRCP accused Chandrababu Naidu of making “heinous allegations” for political reasons, the TDP circulated the lab report to substantiate this claim.
2. During a meeting of the NDA faction on Wednesday, Naidu alleged that the previous government under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy did not even spare the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat to make laddus.
3. TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy claimed that the adulteration was confirmed by a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory through the ghee samples provided by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
4. The alleged lab report also claimed that the samples contained “lard” (pork fat) and fish oil. The sample receipt date was July 9, 2024, and the lab report was dated July 16.
5. However, there was no official confirmation of the lab report from either the Andhra Pradesh government or the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, PTI reported.
6. The CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock & Food) laboratory is a multidisciplinary analytical laboratory at the NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) based in Anand, Gujarat.
7. On Thursday, Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the former YSRCP government had desecrated Tirumala, but noted that the process of cleaning it up had already begun.
8. Reacting to this development, the IT Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Lokesh, stated that the laboratory reports clearly show that beef fat, fish oil and lard were used in the production of laddus.
9. The TDP ally Bharatiya Janata Party also demanded legal action. Speaking to ANI, BJP OBC Morcha leader K Laxman said the sentiment of the Hindu community has been hurt. Raja Singh, BJP MP from Telangana, said the alleged use of “beef fat and fish oil” in making the holy Laddu Prasadam during the previous tenure of the YSR Congress was a direct attack on our rich cultural and religious heritage, which cannot and must not be tolerated.
10. YSRCP senior leader and Rajya Sabha member YV Subba Reddy, who was chairman of the TTD for four years, observed that Naidu's allegations had undermined the sanctity of the deity and hurt the sentiments of devotees. “It is inconceivable to even allege that animal fat was used in the consecrated food offered to the deity and in the laddus given to devotees. There is no heinous attempt other than alleging that animal fat was used,” PTI quoted Reddy as saying.

(With contributions from agencies)