TDP Leader Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy Accuses Jagan Mohan Reddy of Misusing TTD Funds and Using Animal Fat in Tirumala Prasadam
Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 19: TDP leader Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy has raised serious allegations against Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy regarding the Tirumala Laddu Prasadam. Kommareddy claimed that between 2019 and 2024, Jagan Mohan Reddy appointed his uncles, YV Subba Reddy and Karunakar Reddy, as Chairmen of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). According to a vigilance inquiry, there are traces of animal fat in the prasadam of Lord Balaji in Tirumala.
Kommareddy stated, “We all know that between 2019 and 2024, Jagan Mohan Reddy as Chief Minister, had appointed his own uncles as Chairman of TTD. By appointing his own uncles in TTD, he started looting TTD funds. Immediately after we came into power, we ordered a vigilance inquiry in TTD and in a preliminary report which was submitted by the vigilance department, it was stated that funds to the tune of Rs 530 crore were looted. Also, in the same report, it was stated that the ghee which was used to make the prasadam, had even bypassed the lab test and there are traces that animal fat had been used to make the prasadam of Lord Balaji in Tirumala.”
He added, “Our CM, while addressing the MLAs in the NDA meeting yesterday, expressed his anguish and pain after knowing this fact. We have seen how Jagan Reddy with his uncles had sold TTD’s Darshanam tickets in the black market. They have looted the funds in the Srivani Trust. Also, the pilgrims many times in the past five years under Jagan Reddy’s rule, have protested against the quality of food that is being offered.”
In response, former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy said, “If God is used for political gain, for political selfishness… God will not forgive the one who makes such accusations. There is no doubt about it. I remind you that Chandrababu himself has said many times that Sri Venkateswara Swamy does evil discipline. So God does not stand idly by on the person who makes such vile accusations. Chandrababu is not new to making accusations in the name of God keeping his political opponents in mind. Chandrababu had made similar allegations even when YSR was the CM in the past. God then also punished him for this. However, Chandrababu has not changed. Now he is making such allegations again. The fact is that the authorities have no involvement in the preparation of Annaprasadas in Tirumala. These ingredients are prepared through the amrita hands of holy Sri Vaishnavas. The use of materials in prasadam is in their hands. Chandrababu’s accusations against the prasadam made by the hands of such people are the pinnacle of his mud politics.”
Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the previous YSR Congress led by Jagan Mohan Reddy had used animal fat in consecrated sweets–‘Tirupati Prasadam’ instead of ‘Ghee’ at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. In a post on X, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip of his father, CM Naidu, addressing a gathering and wrote, “The Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the Ysjagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam.”
The temple is devoted to Lord Venkateswara, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu who is believed to have come to earth to deliver humanity from the trials and tribulations of the Kali Yuga. As a result, the location has been given the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntha, and the god is known as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam.
Doubts Revealed
TDP -: TDP stands for Telugu Desam Party, a political party in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy -: Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy is a leader from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Jagan Mohan Reddy -: Jagan Mohan Reddy is the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the leader of the YSR Congress Party.
TTD -: TTD stands for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which manages the famous Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.
Prasadam -: Prasadam is a religious offering, usually food, given to devotees in Hindu temples.
Vigilance inquiry -: A vigilance inquiry is an investigation to check for any wrongdoing or corruption.
Animal fat -: Animal fat is fat derived from animals, which is not usually used in religious offerings like prasadam.
Bhumana Karunakar Reddy -: Bhumana Karunakar Reddy is a former Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).
Politically motivated -: Politically motivated means actions or statements made to gain political advantage rather than based on truth.
Chandrababu Naidu -: Chandrababu Naidu is a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and a leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
YSR Congress -: YSR Congress is a political party in Andhra Pradesh, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Ghee -: Ghee is a type of clarified butter commonly used in Indian cooking and religious offerings.