Sat Apr 19 03:37:20 UTC 2025: ## Political Row Erupts Over Cow Deaths at Tirupati Dairy Farm
TIRUPATI, INDIA – A political firestorm has ignited in Tirupati over the alleged deaths of cows at the Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshanasala, a dairy farm run by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Ruling and opposition parties have been trading accusations for over a week, with the BJP blaming official apathy and the opposition alleging political motives behind the accusations.
The conflict escalated on Friday with the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy. The FIR, filed by BJP spokesperson and TTD Trust Board member G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, accuses Mr. Karunakar Reddy of spreading misinformation and invokes sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act. Mr. Karunakar Reddy has vowed to fight the charges, claiming he will not be silenced.
CPI national secretary K. Narayana has called for an end to the escalating political point-scoring, urging both sides to cease the public dispute. Mr. Narayana, who recently visited the farm, reported satisfactory fodder supply and hygiene conditions. He criticized the use of the issue to inflame religious sentiments.
The TTD has released cow death figures for the 2024-25 fiscal year, ranging from 12 to 21 deaths per month. The ongoing controversy continues to raise concerns about the management of the dairy farm and the reputation of the TTD.
First Piper 