Kumar Bahukhandi
Andhara Pradeh : A woman devotee who had come to visit the famous Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati has claimed that she found tobacco wrapped in paper inside a laddu offered as prasad. This development comes in the wake of allegations of animal fat being found in laddus.
According to the information, Donthu Padmavati, a resident of Khammam district, said that she had visited Tirupati temple on September 19. Tobacco was found in the prasad. She had brought this prasad home to distribute to her neighbors. Padmavati said that as soon as I was about to distribute the laddus, I was horrified to see pieces of tobacco wrapped in a small paper.
What is the controversy?
The controversy hit the headlines when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed last week that laddus served as prasad at the Tirupati temple during the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government were found to contain substandard ingredients, including animal fat. This led to a political uproar.
The temple administration denied the claim, calling it fake
The woman’s claim comes after allegations that animal fat was found in the ghee used to make the laddus. The TTD has denied this claim. The laddus, prepared with utmost devotion by Sri Vaishnavite Brahmins at Laddu Pottu in Tirumala, follow strict procedures and are produced under constant CCTV surveillance, the TTD said.
