The situation surrounding the ghee controversy in Andhra Pradesh has reached a point of exhaustion.
News dailies aligned with both the ruling party and the opposition continue to carry stories on the issue, even though it is no longer new.
While the origin of the controversy lies in the past, it has been kept alive through sustained political sparring and media amplification.
It is well known that N Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan made serious allegations claiming that animal fat, including lard, was used in the ghee meant for Tirumala Balaji laddus during the YSRCP regime.
These statements triggered widespread outrage, as they deeply hurt the religious sentiments of devotees and questioned the sanctity of one of the most revered shrines.
The controversy took a fresh turn with the filing of a chargesheet by a Central Bureau of Investigation led Special Investigation Team.
The SIT investigation identified the issue primarily as a case of vegetable oil related fraud rather than a confirmed instance of deliberate animal fat usage in laddu preparation.
According to laboratory reports cited in the chargesheet, the samples showed the presence of vegetable oils, with rare traces of animal-origin substances such as tallow, lard or fish oil.
The SIT did not conclude that these animal fat traces were intentionally added, nor did it establish systematic or deliberate adulteration of Tirumala laddu prasadam.
The chargesheet also stopped short of blaming temple authorities directly.
Its focus remained on irregularities at the supplier level, documenting what the test reports revealed without attributing intent or scale to the trace findings.
This distinction has now become the core of the political debate.
YSRCP views the chargesheet as a rebuttal to the original animal fat allegation, while TDP supporters argue that even vegetable oil adulteration is unacceptable.
While adulteration in any form is a serious concern, there is a clear difference between vegetable oils and animal fats like lard in the sacred context of Tirumala prasadam.
Many devotees feel that invoking animal fat allegations for political mileage crosses a moral line. The continued back and forth has only deepened frustration.
Playing politics around Tirumala Balaji’s sanctity is widely seen as inappropriate, and there is a growing belief that the matter should now be handled with restraint, responsibility, and respect for faith.
The continued exchange of accusations only deepens frustration. Playing politics around Tirumala Balaji is seen as deeply inappropriate, and both sides would do well to stop the noise and let the matter rest.
Many warn playing with Tirumala's sanctity will have serious consequences.
Kiran Sharma