Jagan accuses Chandrababu of using diversion politics over Tirumala laddu controversy

TADEPALLIGUDEM: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy criticised Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for his remarks on the Tirumala laddu preparation.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Jagan accused Naidu of employing "low-level politics" by alleging adulteration in the ingredients used for the sacred prasadam at the Tirumala temple.

Jagan responded to Naidu's claim that animal fat was being used in place of ghee, calling the accusation false and an attempt to mislead the public. He questioned how a Chief Minister could make such irresponsible statements, which hurt the sentiments of lakhs of devotees. "The laddu preparation has followed the same procedures for decades. Every tanker of ghee arrives with an NABL certificate, and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) conducts its own tests, approving materials only if they pass," Jagan clarified.

He further stated that between 2014 and 2019, the TTD rejected samples 14-15 times during Naidu's tenure, while 18 rejections occurred under the YSRCP government. Jagan explained that on July 12, 2019, when Naidu was still in office, samples were collected and tested, yet Naidu remained silent despite knowing the results. "If the samples were rejected two months ago, why has he not raised the issue earlier?" Jagan asked.

Jagan also accused Naidu of tarnishing the reputation of TTD and diminishing the sanctity of Tirumala for political gain. He announced that letters would be sent to the Chief Justice of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking intervention. The YSRCP government, he added, had contributed significantly to temple restoration and established new temples under the TTD, including in Hyderabad, Chennai, Jammu, and Bhubaneswar.

Jagan concluded by calling on the BJP to take a stand against Naidu’s “false claims” and criticised Naidu for involving religious institutions in politics. "TTD is a prestigious board, and its appointment process is even more complex than that of the cabinet. Its purpose is to serve the deity, not to become a political tool," Jagan said.