Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has canceled his planned visit to the famous Tirumala temple in Tirupati. The decision comes after a controversy erupted over allegations that animal fat was used in preparing the temple’s sacred prasadam, the Tirupati laddus.
Jagan Reddy Cancels Tirupati Visit
The controversy started when Andhra Pradesh’s current Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, accused the previous YSRCP government of using substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in making the laddus offered at the Tirumala temple. This claim shocked many devotees, as the laddus hold special significance for pilgrims.
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Jagan Reddy, who planned to visit the temple as part of a statewide ritual organized by his party to counter these allegations, decided to cancel his trip to avoid any disruption or safety issues during the visit. The YSRCP leader expressed concerns that his presence could cause inconvenience to the many devotees visiting the temple.
Jagan Reddy strongly refuted Naidu’s claims, calling them false and misleading. He stated that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, follows a strict process to ensure the quality of the ingredients used in making the laddus, especially ghee. The TTD board, Reddy emphasized, operates transparently, awarding tenders to suppliers through a competitive bidding process every six months.
“The TTD board’s decisions are not influenced by the government. It consists of members recommended by Union Ministers and other state Chief Ministers, making it a unique and respected institution,” Reddy explained. He added that quality checks and ghee rejections have been a regular practice during both his and Naidu’s time in office, and are not a new development.
Jagan Reddy accused Naidu of using the Tirupati laddus controversy to divert attention from other pressing issues in the state. He also expressed frustration over the state government’s efforts to obstruct his visit, pointing out that notices were issued to several YSRCP leaders preventing them from participating in the planned temple visit.
“The state government is using its authority to block our program, while the BJP is being allowed to move freely. This shows a biased approach,” Reddy said during a press conference.
