In the spotlight, Tirupati laddus, has sparked row across the various temples including the newly consecrated Ram temple in Ayodhya where the trust have been using it to serve as `prasad’.

The Chandrababu Naidu Government in Andhra Pradesh has claimed that the ghee used to prepare the temple’s ‘prasad’ (laddus) contained animal fats and the Centre has sought a time bound detailed report pertaining to the controversy.

Amid concerns among devotees on the quality of ghee used in the famous Tirupati ‘laddu prasadam’, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has said sanctity of the sacred sweetmeat has been restored. In a social media post on Friday night, the TTD, which manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, on the hills of Tirumala said the divinity and purity of Srivari Laddu is unblemished now.

“The divinity and purity of Srivari laddu is unblemished now. TTD is committed to protecting the holiness of Laddu Prasadam to the satisfaction of all the devotees,” the temple board said in the post. The temple body managing the super-rich shrine on Friday revealed it has come across sub-standard ghee and presence of lard in samples tested for quality, echoing claims first made by Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu two days ago.

With the fingers of accusation being pointed at the previous YSRCP regime over the issue, former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy described the matter as “diversion politics,” and slammed it as a “concocted story.” The Centre has sought a report on the matter from the Andhra Pradesh Government and promised suitable action after examining it.

Ayodhya temple’s priest alleged that ‘prasad’ from the Tirupati temple was distributed at the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya. The chief priest of Ayodhya temple Acharya Satyendra Das said that 300 kgs of Tirupati laddus were distributed to the devotees earlier in January this year during the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple which saw presence of galaxy of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, industrialists, celebrities and many more.

Naidu on Saturday said the Government will consult pontiffs, sages, priests and other top Hinduism experts on the future course of action to be taken following allegations of animal fat adulteration in Tirupati laddus. During a recent NDA legislative party meeting, Naidu claimed that the previous YSRCP government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making the popular Tirupati laddus, known for its unique taste.

The Chief Minister said after consultation, the Government will take its decision with respect to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the official custodian of world-renowned Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati. “We are discussing what to do next and how to go forward with respect to TTD. After deliberating with pontiffs, priests and Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) experts, we will decide on how the samprokshana (ritualistic sanitisation) should be done,” said Naidu in an official release.

Highlighting the unique glory of the Tirupati laddu, the CM noted that many people tried to make better prasadams (consecrated food) but failed at it. “In Ayodhya also they tried to replicate Tirumala laddu and workers were also taken from here but it was not possible. This matter was told to me by people from there (Ayodhya),” said Naidu, adding that Tirupati laddu is centuries old.

Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi said the Centre has taken the issue of desecration of famous Tirupati Laddu seriously and will take the matter to its logical end.

The Minister also said the allegations cropped up after the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) stopped using the Nandini Ghee of the Karnataka Milk Federation. “We have heard a very serious allegation of adulteration in the auspicious Tirupati Laddu. The previous (Andhra Pradesh) Government was using Nandini Ghee. Once they stopped using Nandini products, they started procuring Ghee from different sources. Since then, these incidents have taken place and the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has released the lab report as well,” Joshi said.