Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has accused the state's previous YSR Congress (YSRCP) government of using animal fat and substandard ingredients in making the Tirupati laddoo, which is served as 'prasad' at the famous Sri Venkateswara temple.

Speaking at the NDA legislature party meeting in Amravati, Naidu said, "Even Tirumala laddoo was made with substandard ingredients...they used animal fat instead of ghee."

Naidu further added that pure ghee was now being used and everything had been sanitised at the temple, leading to improved quality.

After the allegations of N Chandrababu Naidu, Andra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh also targeted the Jagan Mohan Reddy government over the issue.

"The Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam," he said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, YSRCP termed Naidu's allegation as "malicious" and said that the TDP supremo would "stoop to any level for political gain".

YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Subba Reddy alleged that Naidu had severely damaged the sanctity of the holy Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus with his comments.

"His comments about the Tirumala prasadam are extremely malicious. No person would speak such words or make such accusations,” said Subba Reddy in a post on X.

The former TTD chairman threw a challenge to Naidu that he would take an oath over this issue along with his family before the deity to strengthen the faith of devotees and asked if Naidu would do the same.

Source: India Today