A fresh controversy has erupted in Andhra Pradesh, with the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) alleging that adulterated ghee containing “beef tallow” was used in the preparation of the iconic Tirupati laddus, distributed as prasadam at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala. On Thursday, September 19, TDP representatives claimed that laboratory reports confirmed the presence of animal fats in the ghee. This has intensified political tensions, especially after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of compromising the quality of the laddus by allegedly using substandard ingredients.
The allegations are based on a report purportedly issued by the Gujarat-based NDDB CALF Ltd, a livestock laboratory under the National Dairy Development Board. According to TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy, the report revealed the presence of not only beef tallow but also lard (pig fat) and fish oil in the samples of ghee used for the prasadam. The samples were reportedly submitted to the lab on July 9, and the findings were dated July 16. However, neither the state government nor the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the body that manages the hill shrine, has officially confirmed the lab results.
This is not the first time the quality of the Tirupati prasadam has come under scrutiny. Over the years, concerns have been raised about the ingredients used in preparing the laddus. Historically, the TTD lacked a robust mechanism to test the quality of the ghee and other ingredients. However, it has now established a sensory perception laboratory, where staff members are being trained in Mysuru to perform quality checks.
The controversy has also drawn in the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which has been supplying Nandini brand ghee to the TTD since the change in state government. While Naidu did not specifically name KMF in his accusations, the federation issued a statement clarifying that it began supplying ghee to the temple only after the regime change and not during the previous administration. KMF also pointed out that it had supplied ghee to the temple only once in the last 20 years and never qualified as the lowest bidder (L1) in the temple's rigorous e-tender process.
In August 2023, KMF Chairman Bheema Naik criticized the TTD for allegedly procuring low-quality ghee. However, TTD executive officer AV Dharma Reddy refuted these claims, stating that the temple sources ghee from suppliers who meet stringent quality standards and offer the best price.
As the controversy rages, the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government has categorically denied Naidu's allegations. The government maintains that the laddus are made with cow ghee and other top-quality ingredients, dismissing claims of adulteration as politically motivated. The lack of official confirmation on the lab report, however, leaves the issue unresolved and continues to fuel the political row.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)