September 20, 2024: In light of recent allegations regarding the presence of animal fat in the iconic Tirupati laddoos, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has initiated a call for a thorough review of the temple's food offerings.
Naidu highlighted the significance of this issue by referencing the late NT Rama Rao, who established the tradition of food offerings at Tirumala. “I urge all citizens of the state to remember NT Rama Rao’s legacy,” he stated.
Expressing his concerns, the Chief Minister noted, “The quality of food being served has deteriorated.” He criticized the use of substandard ingredients and stressed that impure components have no place in one of Hinduism’s holiest sites.
To rectify these issues, Naidu promised that the food preparation process would be “streamlined” and emphasized the need for a “proper system” to ensure that food offerings are treated with the reverence they deserve. “It is our duty to uphold the sanctity of the offerings made to the deities,” he added.