The simmering feud between Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and actor Prakash Raj over the alleged adulteration of the famed Tirupati laddoos has gone on the boil again. 

Actor-politician Kalyan, who is the chief of the Jana Sena and part of the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh as well as the Centre, had spoken out about the traces of animal fat in the form of beef tallow, fish oil, and lard (pig fat) allegedly found in the ghee used for the laddoos under the previous state government headed by YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. The allegation was originally made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. 

Reacting to Mr Kalyan’s comments, actor Prakash Raj had said that the politician is part of the ruling dispensation in the state and should focus on investigating the matter rather than stoking communal tensions. 

On Tuesday, Mr Kalyan went to the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada to perform a purification ritual as part of his 11-day ‘Prayaschitta Diksha’ (penance for atonement) over the adulteration and hit out at Mr Raj for questioning his secular credentials.

“I am addressing the sanctity of Hinduism and issues like food adulteration. Why should I not speak about these matters? I respect you Prakash Raj, and when it comes to secularism, it must be mutual. I do not understand why you are criticising me. Should I not speak out against attacks on Sanatana Dharma? Prakash should learn a lesson,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.  

“The film industry and others should not make light of this issue; I am very serious about Sanatana Dharma. Many critics have targeted Ayyappa and Goddess Saraswati. Sanatana Dharma is of utmost importance. Every Hindu should take responsibility in this regard. If similar issues arose in other religions, there would be a widespread agitation,” he added.

Mr Raj posted a video on X, saying that he had been misinterpreted and would reply to Mr Kalyan’s questions when he returned to India after a shoot. 

“Dear Pawan Kalyan garu, I saw your press meet. What I have said and what you have misinterpreted is surprising. I am shooting abroad; I will come back to reply your questions. Meanwhile, I would appreciate if you could go through my tweet earlier and understand,” he wrote with the video. 

Point, Counterpoint

On September 20, Mr Kalyan had said on X that many questions needed to be answered by the board of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) – the trust that manages the Tirupati temple – constituted by the YSR Congress government. 

“We are all deeply disturbed with the findings of animal fat (fish oil,pork fat and beef fat) mixed in Tirupathi Balaji Prasad. Many questions to be answered by the TTD board constituted by YCP Govt then… May be the time has come to constitute a  ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ at a National level to look into all the issues related to temples in the entire Bharath… I think we all should come together to put an end to desecration of ‘Sanathana Dharma’ in any form,” he had posted on X.

Responding to the post, Mr Raj had advised Mr Kalyan to avoid “spreading apprehensions”.

“Dear @PawanKalyan…It has happened in a state where you are a DCM (deputy chief minister).. Please Investigate ..Find out the Culprits and take stringent action.  Why are you spreading apprehensions and blowing up the issue Nationally … We have enough Communal tensions in the Country,” he wrote. 

(With inputs from ANI)

New Delhi:

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.