Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s claim that animal fat was used in preparing sacred Tirupati temple laddus has sparked a political uproar, leading to yet another battle of words between the ruling Telugu Desam Party and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress.
The controversy has traversed state’s boundaries and has become fodder for the Hindu Right to pin down its opponents through an emotionally-charged campaign on social media.
Naidu’s remarks, made during a celebration of the NDA regime’s 100-day milestone, have elicited strong reactions from religious leaders, political parties, and the temple’s management. The allegation has touched a nerve in the state’s religious sensitivities, prompting both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress to call for a thorough investigation. The YSR Congress Party has accused Naidu of stirring controversy for political gain.
Lab report
A lab report from the National Dairy Development Board (CALF) in Anand, Gujarat, has become the centerpiece of this controversy. Circulating on social media, the report purportedly indicates the presence of animal fat in the Tirupati laddus. Initially, Hindutva-adhering social media participants shared the report, and it quickly gained traction. Even established commentators like Sumanth Raman disseminated the document.
The Wire accessed the eight-page report and confirmed that the widely shared image was the annexure on the final page. The report suggests possible adulteration in the ghee used to prepare the laddus. It mentions that when S-values (a chemical measure) deviate from normal, foreign fats may be present, including fish oil and beef tallow.
However, the report is inconclusive, as identifying specific fats like beef tallow would require further testing. While the lab results suggest adulteration, they do not definitively prove the presence of animal fat.
YSRCP reaction
The YSR Congress Party reacted vehemently to Naidu’s allegation. Senior YSRCP leaders accused him of playing “dirty politics” with the sanctity of the Tirumala shrine. Y.V. Subba Reddy, a former TTD Chairperson, denounced Naidu’s comments as malicious and dangerous to the faith of millions of Hindus. Reddy offered to take an oath before the deity, challenging Naidu to do the same if he truly believed in his accusations.
Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, another former TTD Chairperson, expressed deep anger, calling Naidu’s remarks an attack on the Hindu community itself. He emphasised that the Tirupati laddus are prepared by Srivaishnava priests with no interference from TTD officials, defending the long-standing traditions of the temple. Both leaders condemned the allegations as an attempt to malign the YSRCP government and destabilise religious harmony in the state.Since the NDA government came to power, winning 161 out of 175 seats in the Andhra Pradesh assembly in June 2024, TDP leaders have never missed an opportunity to remind the electorate – ad nauseam – that the previous five years of YSRCP tenure were nothing short of a monumental failure.
Since rekindling his alliance with Modi, Naidu appears to have adopted elements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy of blaming his predecessor. Naidu made the statement about “animal fat” being used in Tirupati laddu prasadam in a seemingly cavalier manner, overlooking the deep reverence and sentiment that people of all religious denominations hold for the Tirumala deity, known as Balaji in North India.
His latest remark in a series of attacks that Naidu and his aides have made against YSR Congress ever since the TDP came to power is also the latest instance of TDP’s oblique canvassing against Reddy’s faith (Reddy is a practicing Christian) Even during the election campaign, TDP attempted to stoke Hindu emotions by leading a rumour campaign that Christians were favoured over other communities during Reddy’s regime.
History of ‘adulteration’
This is not the first time concerns about adulteration in Tirupati laddus have surfaced. In the past, issues involved vanaspati, a vegetable fat – particularly, the Dalda brand – rather than animal fat. According to TTD officials and a committee report, consignments found to be adulterated with plant fats were rejected, and the suppliers blacklisted.
A notable incident occurred when TTD blacklisted a vendor after discovering that 20,000 kg out of a 68,000 kg ghee consignment was substandard. TTD executive officer J. Syamala Rao emphasised that each ghee consignment undergoes rigorous lab testing, including wet chemistry analysis, to ensure quality. While past adulteration cases involved vegetable fats, Naidu’s claim about animal fat was unprecedented and left temple officials in shock.
TDP reaction
Speaking with The Wire, TDP spokesperson B. Pattabhi stated, “There have been previous complaints of adulteration, and testing revealed the presence of animal fat. This is why the chief minister made the statement with full seriousness.”
When it was noted that the report he shared with The Wire provided no definitive evidence of the adulterating material being animal fat or beef tallow, he responded, “The mere possibility of beef tallow as an adulterant is enough to cause alarm and highlight Jagan Reddy’s anti-Hindu sentiments.”
When questioned about the discrepancy between the inconclusive evidence provided and the serious nature of the Chief Minister’s statement, especially given his position, Pattabhi responded, “If someone is accused of a crime, they are a potential criminal. So what’s wrong with naming them?”
When asked why the chief minister chose to emphasise animal fat rather than palm oil or rapeseed oil, which are more commonly used as adulterants, Pattabhi stated that Naidu’s ‘secular’ credentials should not be questioned.
Naidu’s ‘secular’ credentials
Naidu has long been recognised for his political adaptability. As the late human rights activist Dr. K. Balagopal once observed, “Naidu can speak IT jargon in Cyberabad, middle-class jargon in Kukatpally, and communal jargon in the old city of Hyderabad.” This sharp observation highlighted Naidu’s political acumen and versatility, particularly evident during his role in the 1999 NDA election campaign, a period marked by heightened nationalistic fervor following the Kargil War.
Speaking to The Wire, Congress’s national coordinator for Telangana, Sridhar Ramaswamy, said, “Even during the late YSR’s first term from 2004 to 2009, there were absurd rumours claiming that Sonia Gandhi was taking instructions from the Pope in the Vatican to convert Hindus to Christianity, and that she had entrusted this task to YSR, who was himself a Christian. I remember some even alleging that YSR was planning to hand over three of Tirupati’s seven hills to churches. This was before the rise of WhatsApp and social media. So, this communal narrative of forced conversions to Christianity is nothing new in Andhra.”
In 2021, Naidu accused Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of betraying Hindus by using his official position to promote religious conversions in Andhra Pradesh. During a visit to Ramatheertham, where a Ram idol was desecrated, Naidu claimed this was the 127th attack on Hindu temples since the YSR Congress Party took power, blaming these incidents on Jagan’s administration and its alleged indifference to Hindu religious sentiments.
Naidu didn’t stop there. He further accused Reddy of allowing widespread Christian conversions under his administration and neglecting to protect Hindu places of worship. Naidu repeatedly criticized Jagan’s personal faith, highlighting that as a Christian, the Chief Minister had failed to prevent desecrations at Hindu temples, including the incident involving the Lord Rama idol at Ramatheertham.
Later, while addressing an executive party meeting, Naidu directly contrasted his faith with that of Chief Minister Reddy, saying:
“Venkateswara Swamy is my dear god, whereas your dear god is Jesus Christ. If you win the elections, you’ll go to Jerusalem, but when I win, I’ll go to Venkateswara Swamy (Tirupati). You keep the Bible by your side. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if there are attacks on Hindu temples and Hindu deities, I dare you!”
Religious ‘sensitivities’
Why, then, did Naidu make this allegation, and what is he aiming to achieve?
“Before engaging in political debates, we must first establish the truth through legal channels, not through political rhetoric. As a devotee, I want the truth to emerge from a thorough investigation, not from political posturing. While politics may be forgotten tomorrow, hurt sentiments can last a lifetime,” K. Nageshwar, professor and senior political analyst, told The Wire.
Nageshwar argued that the government should have pursued proper legal procedures before making any public statements. “What investigation is actually underway? Who is leading it? What is the prima facie evidence? Has an FIR been filed at the Tirumala station? Who are the accused, and what steps are being taken?” he questioned. “These are serious concerns,” he emphasised. “It’s surprising that Hindu organizations, like the VHP, have not raised this issue. This clearly has the potential to denigrate the Hindu religion in the public’s view,” he added.
Highlighting the potential risk of a law-and-order situation, especially when the issue is politicized, Nageshwar remarked, “While the political aspects are important, we must also address the systemic failure at play. This issue goes beyond politics and impacts society as a whole, particularly in terms of law and order. This isn’t just a case of adulteration, like say in the hotel industry—it involves religious sensitivities, and if people believe it, the consequences could lead to severe unrest.”
Regarding the actions being taken, B. Pattabhi informed The Wire, “The state vigilance department is currently investigating the matter. Although no cases have been filed yet, we expect that FIRs will be registered and arrests made in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, NDA partner Pawan Kalyan, deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, who is credited with bringing the TDP and BJP together, expressed deep concern, calling for stringent action and a national ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’. He urged for a nationwide debate involving various stakeholders to address temple-related issues and protect Sanatana Dharma from desecration.
He was responding to a Hindutva X handle called Hindu IT Cell, which appealed for immediate action, claiming “Hindus are deeply hurt and disturbed.”