New Delhi: A lawyer filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Friday, arguing that the act of making the renowned Tirupati laddoos allegedly with animal fat violates fundamental Hindu religious customs and deeply hurts the sentiments of countless devotees who view the ‘prasad’ as a sacred blessing.
The petitioner has demanded that the sanctity of Hindu religious customs be upheld and said that the claimed presence of animal fat in the laddoos is indicative of more serious systemic problems in temple administration.
The controversy started when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that during the previous YSR Congress government, pig fat was used to manufacture the popular laddoos served as “prasad” at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. The Andhra Pradesh government then referenced a report from a laboratory in Gujarat that said there were residues of fish oil, lard (pig fat), and cattle tallow in the ghee used to make the laddoos.
Attorney Satyam Singh claimed in a letter petition to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that the claims regarding the prasad at the temple, which is run by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), have offended devotees and that the purported use of animal fat in the laddoos is against Article 25 of the Constitution, which protects the freedom of religion, including the right to follow one’s own customs.
The petition cites multiple Supreme Court rulings that underscore the significance of safeguarding fundamental religious customs, asserts that the Tirupati incident is a sign of more widespread problems with temple management, and advocates for committed and culturally aware temple administration.
The attorney who wrote the letter also asked that Hindu religious customs be safeguarded and that holy establishments be managed properly. They also asked that the Supreme Court become involved in the case.
JP Nadda, the union minister of health, had earlier on Friday requested a “detailed report” from Mr. Naidu over the accusations. With senior leader Bandi Sanjay implying that it might have occurred because a “few people from other religions had been inducted” into the TTD board, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of Mr. Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena, has said that the purported usage of animal fat is an unpardonable sin.
‘Diversionary Tactics’
The claims have been denied by the YSR Congress and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Mohan Reddy.
In his initial remarks regarding the dispute on Friday, Mr. Reddy stated that the accusations were untrue and an attempt by the TDP to divert attention.
YV Subba Reddy, a Rajya Sabha MP and senior YSR Congress politician, charged Mr. Naidu of undermining the sacredness of the Tirumala shrine during his four years as TTD chairman.
“Chandrababu Naidu has seriously undermined the confidence of millions of Hindus as well as the sanctity of Tirumala. His remarks against Tirumala Prasad are incredibly hurtful. Nobody would say such things or level such charges,” Mr. Reddy had stated.
Chandrababu Naidu has repeatedly shown that he will do whatever it takes to further his political career. In order to fortify the believers’ faith, my family and I are prepared to swear allegiance to the divine with respect to the Tirumala ‘prasad’. He questioned, “Is Chandrababu Naidu willing to do the same with his family?”
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