Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh stirred controversy on September 18 by sharing a video of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. They alleged that “animal fat, instead of ghee,” was used in consecrated sweets – ‘Tirupati Prasadam’ – at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.
Amul, Karnataka’s Nandini Milk and AR Dairy Food Private Limited were being questioned over the purity of ghee being supplied to the Tirupati temple. While Amul issued a statement on Friday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said reports about the “defilement of the Prasad at Sri Venkateshwara temple in Tirupati are disturbing.”
Tirupati laddu controversy: Here’s what we know so far
1. After Nara Lokesh and CM Naidu made claims about the presence of “aminal fat” in Tirupati laddus, a purported lab report showed that the laddus contained “beef tallow, fish oil” and other substandard ingredients. The purported lab report also claimed the presence of “lard” (relating to pig fat) in the samples.
2. A day after the TDP circulated a lab report to back Naidu’s claim that animal fat was used in Tirupati laddus during the previous YSRCP government, TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said the board was in the process of blacklisting the contractor who supplied ‘adulterated’ ghee.
Addressing the media at the Annamaiah Bhavan Meeting Hall in Tirumala on Friday, Rao said that Naidu has made it clear that the quality and taste of Laddu Prasadam must be upheld. “Also the sanctity of Laddu prasadam must be restored by using pure cow ghee, as it involves the sentiments of millions of devotees worldwide…,” he said.
3. Tamil Nadu-based AR Dairy, a company that supplied ghee to Tirupati Lord Balaji temple, also got involved in the controversy. TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao was quoted by PTI as saying, “Even after warning, four ghee tankers sent by AR Foods were prima facie found to be of substandard quality.”
Rao added that there were five ghee suppliers to TTD, with prices ranging from Rs. 320 to Rs. 411. “These suppliers are Premier Agri Foods, Kriparam Dairy, Vaishnavi, Sri Parag Milk, and AR Dairy. However, these rates do not seem viable for supplying pure ghee,” he said.
4. However, the Tamil Nadu-based AR Dairy said their product samples have been duly cleared by authorities certifying its quality. The Dindigul based firm said only during June and July did it supply ghee to the Tirumala temple. Even when it was supplied, it was sent along with duly accredited lab reports.
5. The TTD official said the lack of an in-house lab for ghee testing allowed suppliers to take advantage of the situation. “However, NDDB has offered to donate ghee adulteration testing equipment, valued at Rs. 75 lakh,” he added.
6. India’s leading dairy brand, Amul, issued a statement on Friday, saying that it never supplied Amul Ghee to TTD. “This is in reference to some social media posts mentioning that Amul Ghee was being supplied to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). We wish to inform that we have never supplied Amul Ghee to TTD,” Amul said in a statement released on X.
7. Meanwhile, Karnataka Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced that a circular has been issued, mandating the use only Nandini ghee for services, lamps and preparation of all types of prasadam in all notified temples under the State Religious Endowment Department and Dasoha Bhavan. He even said all prasada offered at major temples in the state will be tested.
