Fri Sep 20 10:53:00 UTC 2024: ## Political Row Erupts in Andhra Pradesh Over Allegations of Animal Fat in Tirupati Laddus
**Vijayawada, September 20, 2024:** A major political controversy has erupted in Andhra Pradesh over allegations that animal fat was used in the making of Tirupati laddus during the previous YSRCP government.
The accusations were first made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the production of the sacred laddus. This statement has been met with strong denials from the YSRCP, who accuse Naidu of making politically motivated claims.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has presented a lab report from a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory which allegedly confirms the presence of beef tallow, lard, and fish oil in ghee samples taken from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the organization that manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple. The TDP claims the report dates back to July 16, 2024.
The YSRCP, however, has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as sacrilegious and politically motivated. They have accused Naidu of attempting to gain political mileage by exploiting religious sentiments.
Congress leader Pawan Khera has called for a full-fledged investigation into the matter, emphasizing that if the allegations are true, the guilty should be punished. However, he also warned that if the accusations are false, those responsible for spreading these misleading claims will face the wrath of millions of Tirupati devotees.
This controversy has further escalated tensions between the ruling TDP and the opposition YSRCP, adding another layer of complexity to the upcoming elections. It remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved and what impact it will have on the political landscape of Andhra Pradesh.
First Piper 