*Faith should not be targeted for politics: Tirumala laddu truth exposed*

Rajahmundry, Feb 16: YSRCP East Godavari District President and former Minister Chelluboina Srinivas Venugopal criticised the Chandrababu Naidu–led coalition government for deliberately hurting the sentiments of Hindu devotees and creating mental distress among believers to gain political mileage. Addressing the media, he said the conduct, behaviour and propaganda of the ruling leadership suggest that the government is more focused on disturbing devotees’ peace than ensuring social harmony. He alleged that repeated false campaigns are being used to wound the sentiments of Hindu devotees and to distance people from YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for political benefit. He said Chandrababu Naidu has historically changed strategies every election, sometimes invoking caste, sometimes region, and now religion, and is attempting to polarise people by portraying issues as religious.
Referring to the Tirumala laddu controversy, Venugopal said the coalition’s campaign around alleged adulteration in Tirumala prasadam deeply hurt crores of devotees who consider it sacred. He alleged that the Chief Minister started the impurity narrative and tried to blame the previous government, causing anxiety and emotional pain among devotees worldwide. However, reputed laboratories such as NDRI and NDDB reportedly found no traces of animal fat, pig fat or fish oil in the ghee used. He noted that even the Supreme Court–monitored SIT process indicated no such residues. Despite this, the government neither apologised nor showed restraint, instead shifting claims and escalating rhetoric, which he termed irresponsible for a sitting Chief Minister.
Venugopal questioned why the government continued allegations after tests cleared the ghee and said a responsible government should reassure devotees rather than sensationalise sacred matters. He argued that if any irregularity occurred, it happened during the present government’s tenure and responsibility lies with it. He cited a timeline stating that tenders for ghee supply were opened in May 2024, orders were given before government formation, and supplies began after the new government took charge in June 2024. He said multiple tankers from the supplier were initially cleared in TTD lab tests, while four tankers later failed quality checks, were sent back, and according to SIT findings, those same tankers reportedly re-entered and their contents were used. He said these developments occurred under the current government, making attempts to blame the 2019–24 administration misleading.
He added that the ghee procurement system has remained the same for years with FSSAI approvals and TTD lab testing, and that both previous TDP and YSRCP governments had regularly rejected substandard tankers as part of routine quality control. He also stated that the AR Dairy4 supplier was originally introduced during the earlier TDP regime. He criticised the Chief Minister for later making even more serious claims, including about chemicals, after initial allegations were disproved.
Venugopal said putting up posters and continuing campaigns even after facts emerged only prolongs devotees’ distress. He stressed that faith cannot be manipulated for politics and that devotees are intelligent enough to understand the truth. He said attempts to blame YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for political gain have failed and that exploiting religious sentiments will not yield political dividends. He urged the government to stop hurting devotees’ emotions, take responsibility, and maintain dignity when dealing with sacred institutions, stating that governance should inspire confidence, not fear or unrest among people.