Laddu Controversy: Politicization of Tirupati Laddu and Alleged Adulteration

The allegations of adulterating ghee (clarified butter) used in the making of Tirupati’s famous laddu prasadam with ‘foreign fat’ have sparked controversy. The accusations were made by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, along with his son and Minister Nara Lokesh, on September 18. They accused their political rival, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), of being involved in this issue. Since then, the matter has escalated, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, allies of Naidu, calling for an independent investigation. Former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has even requested a Supreme Court-monitored probe.

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Devotees Unfazed by Laddu Allegations Amid Election Controversy

Despite the seriousness of the accusations, they have not deterred devotees from visiting the Tirupati temple. Or slowed down the sale of the laddus, as reported by The Hindu. The timing of these allegations, coinciding with upcoming State elections in Haryana and Maharashtra. Raises concerns about their potential political motivations, especially given that they were made by a constitutional authority of Andhra Pradesh.

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The quality tests were conducted by the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF), affiliated with the National Dairy Development Board in Anand, Gujarat. The laddu samples were received on July 9, with the results submitted on July 16, but Naidu only disclosed the findings in September. The analysis suggests the presence of ‘foreign fat,’ including oils such as soybean, olive, sunflower, rapeseed, and cottonseed, as well as fish oil, palm oil, beef tallow, and lard. However, the extent of the contamination in the ghee, supplied by A.R. Dairy in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, remains unclear. The CALF report also included several caveats regarding its findings.

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