A fresh wave of controversy has hit Andhra Pradesh, centering around the sacred Tirumala Tirupati Temple and its revered Tirumala Laddu prasadam. The dispute has taken a political turn, with Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy calling on devotees to take part in statewide rituals to "atone for the sin" allegedly committed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The controversy stems from Naidu’s recent allegations that animal fat had been used in the preparation of the laddus offered at the temple, a claim that has since spiraled into a major political and religious issue.

Jagan Reddy, in a post on social media platform X, urged the public to unite in protest against Naidu's allegations, which he claimed were politically motivated and intended to defame the sanctity of the Tirumala temple. Jagan Reddy argued that Naidu's statements had deeply hurt the religious sentiments of millions of devotees, particularly concerning the sacred Laddu prasadam.

Tirumala Laddu
Image Source: X.com

"The sanctity of Tirumala, the significance of Swami’s prasadam, the glory of Lord Venkateswara, the reputation of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), and the sacredness of the laddu prasadam have all been defiled by Chandrababu Naidu," Jagan Reddy said. He further called Naidu’s remarks a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation and tarnish the image of the temple for political gains.

The controversy, which emerged earlier this month, prompted Jagan Reddy to address a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take action against Naidu. In the eight-page letter, Reddy accused Naidu of undermining the beliefs of millions of people in pursuit of political objectives and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.

The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Naidu, responded by forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the allegations of adulteration in the Laddu prasadam. Naidu, defending his stance, stated that the inquiry would ensure the integrity of the prasadam while safeguarding religious practices.

"We are forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers of IGP and above ranks. The SIT will submit a report to the government, and we will act on that report to ensure such incidents are not repeated," Naidu said. He further outlined plans to purify the temple according to traditional practices and establish standard operating procedures for the management of temples across the state.

As tensions between the two political rivals intensify, the issue has become emblematic of the increasingly heated political environment in Andhra Pradesh. The YSRCP’s call for special poojas to "sanitise" the alleged sin has found support among many devotees, who view Naidu’s comments as an attack on their religious faith.

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