Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on September 20, weighed in on the Tirupati Laddu controversy, urging authorities across India to protect the sanctity of religious sites. He expressed concern over reports related to the sacred offering of Lord Venkateswara Temple, calling them ‘disturbing.’
Controversy Surrounds Tirupati Laddu: Allegations of Animal Fat Used Sparks Outrage and Political Blame Game
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi said, “The reports of desecration of the sacred offerings at Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati are deeply disturbing. Lord Balaji is revered by millions of devotees in India and across the world. This issue will hurt every devotee and needs to be taken seriously. Authorities across India must safeguard the sanctity of our religious sites.”
The reports about the defilement of the Prasad at Sri Venkateshwara temple in Tirupati are disturbing.
Lord Balaji is a revered deity for millions of devotees in India and across the world. This issue will hurt every devotee and needs to be thoroughly looked into.
Authorities…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 20, 2024
His remarks came after a laboratory report revealed that the Laddu prasad offered to devotees at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, allegedly contained animal fat and fish oil, sparking a major controversy across the country. This revelation has led to widespread concern and outrage among the devotees.
On the same day, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed the allegations of adulteration raised by the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He stated that there had been no violation of laws under his government and labeled the entire controversy as ‘unjust.’ He further accused current Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of “using God for political gain.”
The controversy has ignited a heated debate about the protection of religious sanctity and is likely to see further reactions in the days to come.
