After Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that animal fat was used in Tirupati laddus during the previous government's tenure, YSR Congress has dismissed the allegations.
Naidu made the shocking allegations while addressing a legislative party meeting of the NDA on Wednesday. Naidu's TDP is ruling Andhra in alliance with the Jana Sena and the BJP.
The Andhra CM claimed that animal fat was used to prepare the prasadam laddus at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Tirupati, during the YSR Congress regime.
During Wednesday's meeting, Naidu said that even Tirumala laddu was made with substandard ingredients and that animal fat was used instead of ghee to make the prasadam. He claimed that under his government, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which runs the temple, is using pure ghee.
Naidu claimed that everything has been sanitised at the temple, which was in turn improved the quality.
Andhra IT minister Nara Lokesh also joined the TDP supremo to raise the issue, saying he is shocked to learn that Reddy's government used animal fat instead of ghee.
However, senior YSRCP leader YV Subba Reddy, who chaired the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in the previous government, dismissed the chief minister's allegations as "malicious". He said Naidu is ready to stoop to any level to make political brownie points.
The former TTD chairman said Naidu has severely damaged the sanctity of the temple and the faith of crores of Hindus with his malicious remarks.