Tirumala, the world’s richest temple, is the pride of every Hindu on this planet, and the Tirumala Laddu is considered one of the most sacred offerings. No one could have imagined, even in their wildest nightmares, that its sanctity would ever be questioned.
However, for the first time, this happened when Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the ghee used in its preparation contained beef tallow, fish oil, and lard. These ingredients are strictly forbidden in any Hindu prasadam, and such an allegation regarding Tirumala is beyond anyone’s imagination.
Some on social media speculate that it might have been a slip of the tongue by Chandrababu, who may have meant “animal fat” instead of “plant-based fat,” as he is known for such slips in the past.
A few weeks ago, a TTD official mentioned the adulteration of ghee with plant-based fats like dalda. Since Chandrababu’s statement caused a nationwide uproar, there are suspicions that attempts might be made to validate his claims in some manner, according to social media opinions.
The lab report that hinted at possible adulteration is merely a suspicion, not a confirmation. However, with the increased focus on the topic and the emotional wave surrounding it, few are paying attention to verifying whether the laddu actually contains beef and lard fats.
Even if this allegation were true, who would do such a thing?
Is there any business logic behind making such a tedious attempt to add animal fats to ghee?
Could this really happen without being noticed by the hundreds of officials involved in the dairy farm, the TTD, or the experienced laddu makers inside the temple, who are Brahmins and can easily distinguish the smell of animal fat from ghee?
Given how this news unfolded, these doubts arise.
Moreover, Chandrababu Naidu has not taken steps to arrest the dairy farm owners, the technicians who approved the ghee quality, the TTD officials who approved its use in laddu making, or any other officials involved.
He has not even agreed to a CBI inquiry, instead proposing a Special Investigation Team (SIT). These bodies work under the state government’s jurisdiction. Despite being in alliance with the BJP, which governs at the center, Chandrababu is not demanding a CBI inquiry, although YS Jagan is calling for it in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
These factors raise suspicions that Chandrababu is hesitant for some reason.
Amidst all this, new fears and worries have emerged. A recent viral social media post claimed that a family from Khammam, who visited Tirumala this week, found a gutka packet inside a Tirumala Laddu. The picture was also shared. While it is unclear if this is true, such incidents could continue, targeting the TTD during the current TDP rule.
It is high time for Chandrababu Naidu to resolve this issue by either taking serious action against all individuals involved, as per his allegations, or by conducting advanced testing to confirm whether the adulterants are actually beef tallow, fish oil, lard, or any other plant-based fat.
Otherwise, the Tirumala Laddu may become a dangerous tool for political attacks by both TDP and YCP party supporters, further tarnishing the sanctity of the temple.
Usha Chowdhary