Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has strongly refuted allegations from the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that substandard and adulterated ghee, containing animal fats such as lard, beef tallow, and fish oil, was used to prepare the iconic laddoos at the Tirupati temple during his time in office. The laddoos, considered sacred and offered as prasad to millions of devotees visiting the temple, are a deeply significant aspect of worship at Tirumala, making these accusations particularly sensitive.
Reddy was quick to dismiss the claims as false and politically motivated, accusing Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of orchestrating the controversy to deflect attention from more pressing issues. According to Reddy, the lab report that allegedly found evidence of animal fats in the ghee dates back to July 2024, when Naidu had already taken over as Chief Minister. Reddy clarified that his administration had acted responsibly by flagging the issue of poor-quality ghee as soon as it came to light and had followed established procedures to ensure that the products used for temple prasad met stringent quality standards.
He also blamed AR Dairy, the supplier in question, for delivering substandard ghee and insisted that his government had always followed protocol in selecting suppliers through a transparent tender process. The tender is held every six months, and suppliers must meet rigorous qualification criteria, including providing certification from NABL and a product quality certificate before their ghee is accepted for use by the TTD. Reddy stressed that the TTD regularly collects and tests samples of the ghee, and only products that pass these quality checks are used in prasad preparation. During his administration, he noted, they had rejected substandard ghee 18 times, further underscoring his government's commitment to maintaining the sanctity of the offerings made at the temple.
Reddy lashed out at the TDP for what he described as "politicizing a religious matter," accusing Naidu of engaging in "politics in the name of God." He claimed that the current controversy is being used as a political tool to create unnecessary distrust among the public and devotees of the Tirupati temple. Reddy labeled the allegations against him and his administration as completely unwarranted, calling the entire row a deliberate attempt to tarnish his government’s image.
The controversy erupted earlier this week when Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP alleged that the laddoos prepared at the Tirumala temple had been compromised by the inclusion of animal fats and other adulterants. Naidu placed the blame squarely on the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government, accusing them of allowing the use of substandard ingredients, including beef tallow and fish oil, in the ghee. These claims sparked outrage among the public, especially considering the religious significance of the laddoos and the temple's reputation for upholding the highest standards of purity in its offerings.
To support their allegations, TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy presented a lab report from the Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, NDDB CALF Ltd, which confirmed that the ghee used in the preparation of the Tirupati laddoos contained traces of animal fats. The lab report also cited the low S-value of the ghee as further evidence of its inferior quality. The S-value is a key indicator used to assess the purity of fats, and the TDP argued that the low value was proof of the ghee’s contamination with animal fat and fish oil.
The issue has since garnered national attention, prompting Union Health Minister JP Nadda to intervene. On Friday, Nadda contacted Chief Minister Naidu and requested a full report on the matter. This involvement from the Union Health Ministry underscores the seriousness of the allegations, given the potential implications for public health and religious sentiment. The controversy has also raised broader questions about the standards of food safety and quality control in temple prasad offerings, as well as the role of state governments in ensuring that religious institutions maintain the highest levels of purity in their practices.
In his defense, Jagan Mohan Reddy continues to stand firm, reiterating that the accusations are unfounded and politically driven. He emphasized that his administration had always adhered to established procurement protocols and that they took immediate action when substandard ghee was discovered. According to Reddy, the current TDP-led government is using this issue as a tool to attack his previous administration, diverting public attention away from more pressing governance issues.
As the controversy unfolds, it is expected to escalate further, deepening the already intense political rivalry between Reddy’s YSR Congress Party and Naidu’s TDP. The row has not only inflamed political tensions but has also stirred public outrage, as many devotees of the Tirupati temple are concerned about the purity of the prasad offered at one of the most sacred religious sites in India. The issue is likely to remain a key point of contention in Andhra Pradesh's political landscape, as both parties continue to trade accusations over who is responsible for the alleged adulteration in the temple laddoos.
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