‘Sentiments of Crores of Hindus Hurt’: Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Tirupati Laddu Controversy

Indore: Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Friday said the alleged use of animal fat in the Tirupati temple laddu was a “horrendous sin” and sought strict action against those responsible.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu had recently claimed use of substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddus and had slammed the previous YSRCP government there.

"It is a horrendous sin that has hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus. Strict action must be taken against all those who are involved in this conspiracy," said Krishnam, who was expelled from the Congress early this year.

He also backed Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan's suggestion to set up a national board to look into the issues pertaining to temples.

The time has come to constitute a 'Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board' at the national level to look into all the issues related to temples in the country, Kalyan had said.

Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi , Krishnam said the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha was attacking the country with his statements on foreign soil.

Krishnam said 'one country, one election', Uniform Civil Code and a population control law were the need of the hour, adding it was not the agenda of any party but that of the country.

Meanwhile, the Tirupati temple management has recommended for having their own internal labs for testing ghee supplied for preparing prasadam laddoos. The equipment are expected to be available by December-January, but until then, they would be relying on outside labs.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused Chandrababu Naidu for highlighting the issue for political gains.

Senior YSRCP leader B Karunakar Reddy said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu levelled allegations on the preparation of famous Tirupati laddus only to derive political mileage.

Karunakar Reddy, who twice served as the chairman of TTD, the official custodian of the world-renowned Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, alleged that Naidu’s claims that Tirupati laddus (consecrated sweet) were laced with animal fat during YSRCP regime was aimed at politically targeting the opposition party and its chief and former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.