In a major political confrontation in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced that he will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, seeking action against former CM Chandrababu Naidu. The move comes in response to Naidu’s controversial claim that animal fat was used in the preparation of the famous Tirupati temple laddus during Jagan Reddy’s previous term.
Speaking on Friday, Reddy accused Naidu of twisting facts for political gain. “Ultimately, at the end of the day, I myself am writing a letter to the Prime Minister. I am also writing a letter to the Chief Justice of India. I am explaining to them how Chandrababu Naidu twisted the facts and why action should be taken against him for having done so,” Jagan Mohan Reddy was quoted as saying by ANI.
The controversy stems from Naidu’s allegation that instead of ghee, animal fat was used in making the sacred Tirupati laddus, sparking outrage. Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh shared a video in which Naidu reiterated these claims, saying that the laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati were tainted by a mixture of vegetable oils and animal fat during the previous regime.
TDP leader Sribharat Mathukumilli further escalated the issue, stating, “We received the lab reports of ghee used in making Tirupati Laddus. Both reports categorically said that a particular fat based on its S value is not within the stipulated range and is not milk fat, it is not ghee. It is a mix of vegetable oils, and shockingly, beef fat and pig fat,” according to ANI.
Rejecting Naidu’s accusations, Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed the claims as diversionary tactics. “This is diversion politics. On the one hand, people are expressing their anger at Chandrababu Naidu’s 100 days rule. They are demanding what happened to their ‘Super Six’ (poll promises). Under these circumstances, in order to divert public attention, this concocted story has emerged,” Reddy said.
The row over the laddus has also prompted responses from other political figures. Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan expressed concern over the alleged findings of animal fat in the laddus. In a social media post, Kalyan called for the establishment of a national-level body to investigate issues related to temple practices and to ensure the sanctity of religious offerings.
