Concealing Tirupati Laddus Adulteration Would Have Been Sacrilege: AP CM
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu defended his government’s decision to go public with allegations of adulteration of Tirupati laddus and said hiding the matter would amount to “disrespect”. Addressing Parliament on Friday, the Prime Minister said hiding the findings would be a betrayal of public trust. If differences arise in the future, the government will be held responsible.
The allegations date back to September 2024, when Naidu alleged that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati ‘laddus’ during the previous regime led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the state, triggering a major political controversy.
At an NDA legislative party meeting in the southern state in 2024, Naidu had alleged that the previous government did not even maintain the Venkateswara temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fats to make laddu, revered and sought after by millions of devotees. The allegations sparked a nationwide outrage and hurt the sentiments of people belonging to the Hindu community.
“If we had not exposed (laddu adulteration), it would have been disrespectful for us. A question will arise tomorrow: why didn’t you (the government) tell?” said Naidu. The Chief Minister used the floor of the Assembly to reassure the public that all temples in the state have been “cleansed”. “There is no chance of hurting anyone’s sentiments. The NDA government will take the responsibility of protecting the sanctity of every temple and I reiterate this to the people,” he added.
