Clarification from SIT Ignored as Chandrababu Continues to Spread Misinformation

YSRCP Leaders Refute Tirumala Laddu Allegations After CBI Report

YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader YV Subba Reddy has strongly condemned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for allegedly propagating false information regarding the Tirumala laddu prasadam controversy. During a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, Reddy emphasized that a CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) has definitively stated in its charge sheet that no animal fat was detected in the ghee used for preparing the sacred prasadam.

“The allegations have deeply wounded the religious sentiments of millions of Hindu devotees across the country,” Subba Reddy said, flanked by YSRCP Lok Sabha leader PV Mithun Reddy, MPs M. Gurumoorthy, Golla Babu Rao, and other party representatives.

The controversy stems from allegations that during the previous YSRCP government’s tenure, adulterated ghee was used in preparing the renowned Tirumala laddus, which are considered sacred offerings at the Sri Venkateswara Temple, one of India’s most revered Hindu shrines that attracts millions of pilgrims annually.

Subba Reddy, who previously served as the Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust that manages the temple, categorically denied any irregularities during his administration. “I am prepared to take an oath before Lord Venkateswara himself or undergo any truth verification test to prove my innocence,” he declared.

According to Reddy, he personally approached the Supreme Court requesting a CBI investigation into these serious allegations. He noted that the court had observed that the matter deeply concerned devotees’ sentiments and had advised political leaders to refrain from making irresponsible statements on the issue.

“Despite the SIT report clearing the matter, the state government continues to spread false claims and has erected hoardings to blame YSRCP,” Subba Reddy alleged, characterizing the appointment of another inquiry committee as a “political conspiracy” aimed at targeting his party.

PV Mithun Reddy, the YSRCP’s Lok Sabha leader, suggested that Chief Minister Naidu raised these allegations primarily to divert public attention from unfulfilled campaign promises. “The coalition leaders have dragged Lord Venkateswara into politics without any evidence,” he asserted, adding that the SIT charge sheet had exposed the falsity of these allegations.

He further accused the current government of conducting a malicious campaign through public hoardings and media publicity despite knowing the truth of the matter.

MPs Gurumoorthy and Babu Rao expressed concern that the TTD, which should remain above politics given its religious significance, was being transformed into a political battleground. They pointed out that the ghee suppliers in question had worked with previous administrations as well, including those led by Naidu.

The Tirumala laddu prasadam issue has become a significant political flashpoint in Andhra Pradesh since the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) returned to power. Religious sentiments run deep in the region, and allegations concerning the purity of offerings at the Tirumala temple can have serious political repercussions.

The controversy highlights the increasingly complex intersection of religion and politics in India, where temples and religious practices often become contentious issues during political transitions. The TTD, with its substantial resources and influence, has frequently found itself at the center of political disputes between changing administrations in Andhra Pradesh.

As the controversy continues to unfold, religious devotees and political observers alike are watching closely to see whether the issue will be resolved on the basis of the CBI findings or whether it will continue to feature in the state’s political discourse.