Tirupati laddu row: Time to constitute Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board, says Pawan Kalyan

The Andhra CM claimed that animal fat was used to prepare the prasadam laddus at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Tirupati, during the YSR Congress regime.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister  Pawan Kalyan on Friday said the state government will take strict actions regarding allegations that animal fat was used in making Tirupati laddu during the previous YSRCP regime.

“We are all deeply disturbed with the findings of animal fat (fish oil,pork fat and beef fat )mixed in Tirupathi Balaji Prasad. Many questions to be answered by the TTD board constituted by YCP Govt then. Our Govt is committed to take stringent action possible. But, this throws light on many issues surrounding desecration of temples ,its land issues and other dharmic practices,” he said on X.

We are all deeply disturbed with the findings of animal fat (fish oil,pork fat and beef fat )mixed in Tirupathi Balaji Prasad. Many questions to be answered by the TTD board constituted by YCP Govt then. Our Govt is committed to take stringent action possible.But,this throws https://t.co/SA4DCPZDHy
Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) September 20, 2024

According to him, the time has come to constitute a “Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board” at the national level to look into all the issues related to temples across India. “A debate has to happen at a National level by all the policy makers, religious heads, judiciary,citizens,media and all others in their respective domains. I think we all should come together to put an end to the desecration of Sanathana Dharma in any form,” said Kalyan.

A report by NDDB CALF, a private laboratory focused on testing animal feed and milk and milk products has revealed that the samples of the ghee used in making Tirupati laddoos contained foreign fat, including palm oil, fish oil, beef tallow and lard (obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig). The copy of the report was shared by ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy.

Andhra IT minister Nara Lokesh also joined the TDP to raise the issue, saying he was shocked to learn that Reddy's government used animal fat instead of ghee.

However, senior YSRCP leader YV Subba Reddy, who chaired the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in the previous government, dismissed the TDP's allegations as "malicious".