Andhra: YSRCP urges devotees across state to participate in pooja restoring sanctity of Tirumala temple

Amaravathi (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 25 (ANI): The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has urged devotees across the state to participate in temple poojas on Saturday, September 28th, aimed at restoring the sanctity of Tirumala, which the party claims was tarnished by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
YSRCP Chief and Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took to the social media platform X, urging people to stand against the false claims made by Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu had allegedly spread misinformation, claiming that Tirumala's sacred laddu prasadam was adulterated with animal fat, which misled devotees and tarnished the revered image of Lord Venkateswara.
The YSRCP claimed that this act, driven by political motives, deeply hurt the sentiments of devotees. In light of this, the party is calling for participation in temple poojas on September 28th to purify Tirumala's sacredness and restore the honour of Lord Venkateswara's Prasadam.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote, "The sanctity of Tirumala, the significance of Swami's prasadam, the glory of Lord Venkateswara, the fame of TTD, and the sacredness of the laddu prasadam of Lord Venkateswara were all defiled by Chandrababu Naidu, who, with political malice, deliberately spread lies that the prasadam was adulterated with animal fat and that devotees had consumed such tainted prasadam. In order to cleanse this sin committed by Chandrababu Naidu, the YSRCP is calling for participation in Poojas across temples statewide on Saturday, September 28th."
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Tuesday clarified that the rumour about the presence of a tobacco pouch in the sacred Laddu Prasadam is "untrue."
According to the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams stated that "it is inappropriate for some devotees to spread such claims on social media about the presence of a tobacco pouch in Srivari Laddu Prasadam.
"The Laddus in Tirumala are being prepared by Sri Vaishnava Brahmins with utmost devotion, dedication, and strict adherence to the rules, preparing lakhs of Laddus every day," the Temple Authority said.
The temple authority stated that the laddus are also prepared under "CCTV surveillance." "It is unfortunate to spread such misinformation about a well-organised system of Laddu preparation. Devotees are requested to take note of this," the Temple Authority added.
The row over the Tirupati Prasadam began after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the Prasdam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government. (ANI)