Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has stated the allegation is fake.

New Delhi:

The row over animal fats allegedly getting used to make the famed Tirupati laddoos reached the Supreme Courtroom on Friday with a lawyer submitting a petition alleging that the act violates basic Hindu non secular customs and deeply hurts the feelings of numerous devotees who take into account the ‘prasad’ a sacred blessing.

The petitioner has stated the alleged presence of animal fats within the laddoos is symptomatic of bigger systemic points in temple administration and has referred to as for the sanctity of Hindu non secular practices being protected. 

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

In a letter petition despatched to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, lawyer Satyam Singh has stated the allegations on the prasad on the temple, managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), have harm the feelings of devotees and the alleged act of utilizing animal fats within the laddoos violates Article 25 of the Structure, which ensures the precise to freedom of faith, together with the precise to observe non secular customs.

Highlighting a number of judgments of the Supreme Courtroom which have emphasised the significance of defending important non secular practices, the petition claims the Tirupati incident is symptomatic of bigger systemic points in temple administration and requires devoted and culturally delicate administration of temples.

The lawyer who has despatched the letter has additionally sought the safety of Hindu non secular practices and making certain correct administration of sacred establishments, and urged the Supreme Courtroom’s intervention within the matter.

Earlier on Friday, Union Well being Minister JP Nadda requested Mr Naidu for a “detailed report” on the allegations. The BJP, which is an ally of Mr Naidu’s Telugu Desam Celebration (TDP) and the Jana Sena, has stated the alleged use of animal fats is an unforgivable sin, with senior chief Bandi Sanjay hinting that it might have occurred as a result of a “few individuals from different religions had been inducted” into the TTD board.

‘Diversionary Techniques’

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

In his first assertion on the controversy on Friday, Mr Reddy stated the claims have been false and a diversionary tactic by the TDP. 

Senior YSR Congress chief and Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy, who was the TTD chairman for 4 years, accused Mr Naidu of damaging the sanctity of the Tirumala shrine.

“Chandrababu Naidu has severely broken the sanctity of Tirumala and the religion of crores of Hindus. His feedback concerning the Tirumala prasad are extraordinarily malicious. No particular person would converse such phrases or make such accusations,” Mr Reddy had stated. 

“It has been confirmed once more that Chandrababu Naidu will stoop to any degree for political achieve. To strengthen the religion of the devotees, I, together with my household, am able to take an oath earlier than the almighty concerning the Tirumala ‘prasad’. Is Chandrababu Naidu prepared to do the identical along with his household,” he requested.