September 19, 2024: In a startling revelation, a lab report has confirmed that the laddoos offered as Prasad at the renowned Tirupati temple contain animal fats and fish oil. The analysis conducted by NDDB CALF, a private laboratory specializing in testing animal feed and dairy products, found that the ghee used in the laddoos included foreign fats, specifically palm oil, fish oil, beef tallow, and lard.

The controversy ignited when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSR Congress (YSRCP) government of using substandard ingredients in the preparation of the sacred Prasad. Naidu's allegations were amplified by Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh, who expressed his shock on social media, stating, “The Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam.”

In response to the accusations, the YSRCP dismissed Naidu's claims as “malicious” and politically motivated. YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Subba Reddy condemned the allegations, asserting that Naidu had compromised the sanctity of Tirumala and the faith of millions of Hindus for political gain.

The issue has sparked widespread debate among devotees and political circles alike, raising concerns over the authenticity and purity of Prasad distributed at one of Hinduism's holiest sites.