In a defiance against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s allegations of adulteration in the sacred Tirupati Laddu prasadam, leaders of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) performed Shuddhi Pujas across the State on Saturday. The party sought divine forgiveness for the alleged “baseless accusations” made by Chandrababu Naidu, targeting the quality of the holy laddu distributed at Tirumala.
Leading the charge was YSRCP Chief and former Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who has vehemently denied the accusations of adulterating ghee with animal fat in the preparation of the prasadam. The YSRCP organised these purification rituals as a mark of protest, with party leaders and members participating in temples across Andhra Pradesh. At the ancient Tathayagunta Gangamma temple in Tirupati, former TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, Tirupati MP M Gurumurthy, and deputy mayor Bhumana Abhinay Reddy led the prayers. Speaking to the media after the puja, Karunakar Reddy lambasted CM Naidu’s allegations as baseless.
“Chandrababu Naidu, who is holding the position of Chief Minister, is misleading the public for his political gain and hurting the sentiments of millions of devotees,” he remarked. Tirupati MP M Gurumurthy highlighted the measures undertaken during the YSRCP regime to improve the quality of ghee used by the TTD. He pointed out that over 1,000 desi cows had been brought to Tirumala, with a dedicated Goshala established to ensure self-sufficiency in dairy needs for the preparation of the holy laddu.
Meanwhile, former minister and actress RK Roja participated in purification rituals at the Sundareswara temple in Tamil Nadu. Former minister Ambati Rambabu and Vidadala Rajani conducted pujas at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Guntur, while Vijayawada witnessed pujas led by Devineni Avinash and Malladi Vishnu. In Rajahmundry, ex-MP Praghan Bharat, and in Panyam, former MLA Katasani Ram Bhupal Reddy, along with Venkatarami Reddy in Anantapuram, also performed purification ceremonies.
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