Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Friday emphasized that the state government will take decisive action following allegations that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the previous YSRCP regime.
“We are all deeply troubled by the findings of animal fat (including fish oil, pork fat, and beef fat) mixed in the sacred Tirupati Balaji prasad. There are many questions that the TTD board, appointed by the YCP government at the time, must answer. Our government is committed to taking the strictest action possible. This issue also sheds light on broader concerns such as temple desecration, land matters, and the preservation of dharmic practices,” Kalyan wrote on X.
He suggested that it is now time to establish a “Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board” at the national level to address issues related to temples across India. “A national debate involving policymakers, religious leaders, the judiciary, citizens, and the media is essential. We must all come together to protect Sanatana Dharma in all its forms,” Kalyan added.
The controversy arose following a report by NDDB CALF, a private laboratory that focuses on testing animal feed and dairy products. The report revealed that samples of the ghee used in the Tirupati laddus contained foreign fats, including palm oil, fish oil, beef tallow, and lard. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy shared a copy of the report.
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh also expressed shock over the revelations, criticizing the previous YSRCP government for allegedly using animal fat instead of pure ghee.
However, YV Subba Reddy, a senior leader of the YSRCP and former chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, dismissed the allegations as “malicious” and politically motivated.