Tirupati Laddoo Row Reaches Top Court For "Protecting Religious Rights"

The row over animal fat allegedly being used to make the famed Tirupati laddoos reached the Supreme Court on Friday with a lawyer filing a petition alleging that the act violates fundamental Hindu religious customs and deeply hurts the sentiments of countless devotees who consider the 'prasad' a sacred blessing.

The petitioner has said the alleged presence of animal fat in the laddoos is symptomatic of larger systemic issues in temple administration and has called for the sanctity of Hindu religious practices being protected. 

The controversy began after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that animal fat was used to make the sought-after laddoos given as 'prasad' by the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati under the previous YSR Congress government. The Andhra Pradesh government then cited a report by a Gujarat laboratory which stated that the ghee used in the laddoos contained traces of beef tallow, fish oil, and lard (pig fat). 

In a letter petition sent to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, lawyer Satyam Singh has said the allegations on the prasad at the temple, managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), have hurt the sentiments of devotees and the alleged act of using animal fat in the laddoos violates Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion, including the right to practice religious customs.

Highlighting several judgments of the Supreme Court that have emphasised the importance of protecting essential religious practices, the petition claims the Tirupati incident is symptomatic of larger systemic issues in temple administration and calls for dedicated and culturally sensitive management of temples.

The lawyer who has sent the letter has also sought the protection of Hindu religious practices and ensuring proper management of sacred institutions, and urged the Supreme Court's intervention in the matter.

Earlier on Friday, Union Health Minister JP Nadda asked Mr Naidu for a "detailed report" on the allegations. The BJP, which is an ally of Mr Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena, has said the alleged use of animal fat is an unforgivable sin, with senior leader Bandi Sanjay hinting that it may have happened because a "few people from other religions had been inducted" into the TTD board.

'Diversionary Tactics'

The YSR Congress and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy have rubbished the allegations. 

In his first statement on the controversy on Friday, Mr Reddy said the claims were false and a diversionary tactic by the TDP. 

Senior YSR Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy, who was the TTD chairman for four years, accused Mr Naidu of damaging the sanctity of the Tirumala shrine.

"Chandrababu Naidu has severely damaged the sanctity of Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus. His comments about the Tirumala prasad are extremely malicious. No person would speak such words or make such accusations," Mr Reddy had said. 

"It has been proven again that Chandrababu Naidu will stoop to any level for political gain. To strengthen the faith of the devotees, I, along with my family, am ready to take an oath before the almighty regarding the Tirumala 'prasad'. Is Chandrababu Naidu willing to do the same with his family," he asked.