The matter of mixing beef and pig fat in Tirupati laddus heated up, now the Center has sought a report from Andhra Pradesh

Union Health Minister JP Nadda has sought a detailed report from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in this matter. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has alleged that the ghee used to make laddus offered as prasad in the Tirupati temple and distributed to crores of devotees contains animal fat.

The issue heated up after the TDP made a sensational allegation, citing a July report of a Gujarat government laboratory, that traces of beef fat, fish oil and lard were found in ghee samples used when YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was chief minister.

Chandrababu Naidu and his deputy, Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan, have attacked the YSRCP and accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of desecrating the temple and 'Sanatana Dharma'. Union minister and BJP national general secretary Sanjay Bandi has strongly criticised it, calling it an 'unpardonable sin'.

He also claimed that the ghee was adulterated because the board had 'some people from other religions'. BJP MP and former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board member Bhanu Prakash Reddy has even demanded an FIR against former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy.

On the other hand, YSR Congress has rejected these allegations. Rajya Sabha MP and Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board for four years YV Subba Reddy said, 'It is unimaginable to say that animal fat was used in the laddus offered to the deity and given to the devotees every day.'

Subba Reddy termed Chandrababu Naidu's allegations as 'disgusting' and accused him of harming the sanctity of the temple. He said that in fact Chandrababu Naidu has harmed the sanctity of the temple by making such derogatory remarks and affected crores of devotees.

Karunakar Reddy, another senior YSR Congress leader and two-time chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board, said the TDP government's claims amounted to political vendetta against Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Meanwhile, Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi has said that given the seriousness of the matter, it should be thoroughly investigated. He said, 'What the Chief Minister said is a matter of serious concern. There should be a detailed investigation into this and the culprits should be punished.'

However, the Congress party is reacting very cautiously to the issue. The party's state unit chief YS Sharmila has demanded a CBI probe into the matter. She said, “If there is no political angle in your allegations…if you have no intention of politicising the issue…then form a high-level committee or demand a CBI probe. Congress demands you to find out the truth.”