Tamil actor Karthi has apologised to Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, over his comment on the Tirupati laddoo row. Pawan Kalyan had lashed out at Karthi over the latter's remark over the controversy around the temple prasad.&nbsp; 
 
What did Karthi say? 
 
On September 23, Karthi attended an event in Hyderabad during which the anchor showed a few memes, one of which was about laddoos. To which the actor reacted and said, "Ippudu laddoo gurinchi maatladakodadu (We should not talk about laddoo now), it's a sensitive topic manakoddadi (we don’t want)." The actor laughed off the matter of animal fat being used in the laddoos which did not go down well with many, including Pawan Kalyan.&nbsp; 
 
Soon after, Pawan lashed out at the actor and said, "Don’t you dare say it is a sensitive issue or make jokes about the Tirupati Laddoo. I respect you as an actor, I urge everyone from the film fraternity to either support this fight or stay silent. I would request everyone to refrain from making unnecessary remarks." 
 
On Tuesday, Karthi issued a public apology to Pawan Kalyan and wrote, "Dear @PawanKalyan&nbsp;sir, with deep respects to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards."&nbsp;

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Dear <a href="https://twitter.com/PawanKalyan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PawanKalyan</a> sir, with deep respects to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards.
— Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) <a href="https://twitter.com/Karthi_Offl/status/1838480559925870662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Pawan Kalyan responded to Karthi apology post and said he understood that the Ponniyin Selvan star did not make the remark intentionally. The Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh wrote on X, "Dear&nbsp;@Karthi_Offl&nbsp;&nbsp;garu,&nbsp;I sincerely appreciate your kind gesture and swift response, as well as the respect you've shown towards our shared traditions. Matters concerning our sacred institutions, like Tirupati and its revered laddus, carry deep emotional weight for millions of devotees, and it’s essential for all of us to handle such topics with care."

"That said, I wanted to bring this to your notice with no intentions behind it, and I understand the situation was unintentional. Our responsibility as public figures is to foster unity and respect, especially regarding what we cherish most—our culture and spiritual values. Let's always strive to uplift these values while continuing to inspire through cinema."

"I would also like to express my admiration for you as a remarkable actor whose dedication and talent have consistently enriched our cinema."

"Wishing you, @Suriya_offl &nbsp;garu, #Jyotika garu, and the entire team at @2D_ENTPVTLTD &nbsp;a successful release of #Meiyazhagan / #SathyamSundaram. May it resonate with audience and bring joy to many (sic)." 
 
Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan is observing an 11-day-long prayaschitta diksha, a purification ritual.&nbsp; 
 
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu previously accused the usage of substandard ingredients, including fish oil and beef tallow, in the ghee used to prepare Tirupati laddoo&nbsp;prasadams during Jagan Mohan Reddy's administration. Recent lab reports have confirmed the presence of animal fat in the laddoos which&nbsp;led to the cancellation of contracts with companies supplying ghee to the temple.

Tamil actor Karthi has apologised to Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, over his comment on the Tirupati laddoo row. Pawan Kalyan had lashed out at Karthi over the latter's remark over the controversy around the temple prasad.

Tamil actor Karthi has apologised to Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, over his comment on the Tirupati laddoo row. Pawan Kalyan had lashed out at Karthi over the latter's remark over the controversy around the temple prasad. What did Karthi say? On September 23, Karthi attended an event in Hyderabad during which the anchor showed a few memes, one of which was about laddoos. To which the actor reacted and said, "Ippudu laddoo gurinchi maatladakodadu (We should not talk about laddoo now), it's a sensitive topic manakoddadi (we don’t want)." The actor laughed off the matter of animal fat being used in the laddoos which did not go down well with many, including Pawan Kalyan. Soon after, Pawan lashed out at the actor and said, "Don’t you dare say it is a sensitive issue or make jokes about the Tirupati Laddoo. I respect you as an actor, I urge everyone from the film fraternity to either support this fight or stay silent. I would request everyone to refrain from making unnecessary remarks." On Tuesday, Karthi issued a public apology to Pawan Kalyan and wrote, "Dear @PawanKalyan sir, with deep respects to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards." Dear @PawanKalyan sir, with deep respects to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards. — Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) September 24, 2024 × Pawan Kalyan responded to Karthi apology post and said he understood that the Ponniyin Selvan star did not make the remark intentionally. The Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh wrote on X, "Dear @Karthi_Offl garu, I sincerely appreciate your kind gesture and swift response, as well as the respect you've shown towards our shared traditions. Matters concerning our sacred institutions, like Tirupati and its revered laddus, carry deep emotional weight for millions of devotees, and it’s essential for all of us to handle such topics with care." "That said, I wanted to bring this to your notice with no intentions behind it, and I understand the situation was unintentional. Our responsibility as public figures is to foster unity and respect, especially regarding what we cherish most—our culture and spiritual values. Let's always strive to uplift these values while continuing to inspire through cinema." "I would also like to express my admiration for you as a remarkable actor whose dedication and talent have consistently enriched our cinema." "Wishing you, @Suriya_offl garu, #Jyotika garu, and the entire team at @2D_ENTPVTLTD a successful release of #Meiyazhagan / #SathyamSundaram. May it resonate with audience and bring joy to many (sic)." Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan is observing an 11-day-long prayaschitta diksha, a purification ritual. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu previously accused the usage of substandard ingredients, including fish oil and beef tallow, in the ghee used to prepare Tirupati laddoo prasadams during Jagan Mohan Reddy's administration. Recent lab reports have confirmed the presence of animal fat in the laddoos which led to the cancellation of contracts with companies supplying ghee to the temple.

Karthi apologises to Pawan Kalyan over his remarks on Tirupati Laddoo controversy 

A cleansing ritual was performed at the Tirupati temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday (Sep 23) after reports claimed that the 'prasadam' (offering) was adulterated with animal fats, including beef tallows.&nbsp;

The ritual called&nbsp;the Mahashanti Yagam&nbsp;was performed in strict accordance with the shastras (manual with rules). Eight temple priests,&nbsp;guided by&nbsp;three Agama Shastra advisors led the cleansing ritual that started around 5:40 am local time and concluded within two hours. Notably,&nbsp;Agama advisors are Vedic scholars who oversee temple rituals.

Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shamala Rao, along with other officials and priests, participated in the&nbsp;purification ritual.&nbsp;

The ritual was performed a day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu&nbsp;ordered an SIT probe into the alleged use of animal fat in making the consecrated laddoos.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Andhra Pradesh: TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) organised a Maha Shanti Homam in the wake of Laddu Prasadam row. 
 
Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) Shamala Rao and other officials of the Board participated in the Homamam along with the… <a href="https://t.co/Gkh7JFeljT">pic.twitter.com/Gkh7JFeljT</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1838045453587468306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tirupati-laddu-row-new-vendor-appointed-promises-of-purity-760801" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tirupati-laddu-row-new-vendor-appointed-promises-of-purity-760801/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>Penance&nbsp;by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan</h2>

On Saturday (Sep 21). Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan announced that he was undertaking an 11-day&nbsp;ritualistic penance to atone for the use of contentious ingredients in the temple kitchen.&nbsp;

Kalyan called the incident a "stain on the Hindu race", adding that those practising the 'Sanatan Dharma' needed to stand up now.&nbsp;

"Tirumala Laddu Prasadam, which is considered to be sacred,&nbsp;has become impure as a result of the depraved tendencies of the past rulers. Contaminated with animal remains. Only open minds can succumb to such sin. Not being able to detect this sin in the beginning is a stain on the Hindu race," said Kalyan.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/andhra-deputy-cm-pawan-kalyan-to-undergo-11-day-penance-after-tirupati-laddoo-row-760820">Also read |&nbsp;Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row</a>

<h2>What is the&nbsp;controversy?</h2>

The controversy erupted after CM Chandrababu Naidu last week alleged that his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddoos, which included animal fat and fish oil.

On Thursday (Sep 19), a lab report from&nbsp;Gujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples. The report, dated July 16, 2024, was presented by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference.

(With inputs from agencies)

A cleansing ritual was performed at the Tirupati temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday (Sep 23) after reports claimed that the 'prasadam' (offering) was adulterated with animal fats, including beef tallows.

A cleansing ritual was performed at the Tirupati temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday (Sep 23) after reports claimed that the 'prasadam' (offering) was adulterated with animal fats, including beef tallows. The ritual called the Mahashanti Yagam was performed in strict accordance with the shastras (manual with rules). Eight temple priests, guided by three Agama Shastra advisors led the cleansing ritual that started around 5:40 am local time and concluded within two hours. Notably, Agama advisors are Vedic scholars who oversee temple rituals. Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shamala Rao, along with other officials and priests, participated in the purification ritual. The ritual was performed a day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu ordered an SIT probe into the alleged use of animal fat in making the consecrated laddoos. #WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) organised a Maha Shanti Homam in the wake of Laddu Prasadam row. Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) Shamala Rao and other officials of the Board participated in the Homamam along with the… pic.twitter.com/Gkh7JFeljT — ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2024 × Watch | Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity Penance by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan On Saturday (Sep 21). Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan announced that he was undertaking an 11-day ritualistic penance to atone for the use of contentious ingredients in the temple kitchen. Kalyan called the incident a "stain on the Hindu race", adding that those practising the 'Sanatan Dharma' needed to stand up now. "Tirumala Laddu Prasadam, which is considered to be sacred, has become impure as a result of the depraved tendencies of the past rulers. Contaminated with animal remains. Only open minds can succumb to such sin. Not being able to detect this sin in the beginning is a stain on the Hindu race," said Kalyan. Also read | Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row What is the controversy? The controversy erupted after CM Chandrababu Naidu last week alleged that his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddoos, which included animal fat and fish oil. On Thursday (Sep 19), a lab report from Gujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples. The report, dated July 16, 2024, was presented by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference. (With inputs from agencies)

Tirupati prasadam row: Temple board conducts purification ritual after animal fat found in laddoos

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Friday launched a scathing attack on both the Andhra Pradesh government and the BJP over allegations that beef fat was used to make laddus at the Tirupati temple.

He said, "Today, the Andhra Pradesh government and BJP are together. BJP does not have any interest in beef or Dharma. BJP plays with the feelings of the people."

"If beef grease is used at such a pious place to make laddus, I would say that PM Modi and the CM should resign. This is about the faith of crores of people", Alvi added.

Alvi also highlighted the ongoing tensions. He said, "Whichever government it is, it has been in collusion with the Bharatiya Janata Party." He claimed that the BJP is 'playing with the sentiments of the people of the country' and further insisted that if beef fat is indeed being mixed into laddus, "the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister do not get any right to be in the government."

"India is one of the countries that exports the most beef in the world... the amount of beef export happening under BJP, it has never happened before", said the congress leader.

Earlier, BJP leader Bhanuprakash Reddy condemned the alleged use of animal fat in the 'Tirupati Prasadam' sweets. Reddy also said that they plan to file a complaint against the previous YSRCP government led by former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He claimed, "During the tenure of Jagan Mohan Reddy, from 2019 to 2024, TTD used pure cow ghee to prepare laddu," adding that the laddu was later adulterated. "We got a report that vegetable oil and animal fat were mixed in it," he said.

Reddy added, "It is a very bad thing that happened in the history of Tirumala... Jagan Mohan Reddy's government wantedly damaged the sentiment of Hindu pilgrims, especially Balaji's devotees." He announced that they are filing a complaint against several officials, including TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made a serious allegation, claiming that the previous YSR Congress government used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam. In a post on X, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip of Naidu, who said, "I am shocked to learn that the YS&nbsp;jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam."

YSRCP Leader and former TTD Chairman YV Subbareddy however denies the charge claiming that only organic materials had been used to prepare the Prasadam.

"All the ingredients used for Swami's offerings from last three 3 years are all organic ingredients including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programs while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programs to mislead the people," he said.

The Tirupati temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, is a very important place of worship, known for its importance among Hindu pilgrims.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Friday launched a scathing attack on both the Andhra Pradesh government and the BJP over allegations that beef fat was used to make laddus at the Tirupati temple.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Friday launched a scathing attack on both the Andhra Pradesh government and the BJP over allegations that beef fat was used to make laddus at the Tirupati temple. He said, "Today, the Andhra Pradesh government and BJP are together. BJP does not have any interest in beef or Dharma. BJP plays with the feelings of the people." "If beef grease is used at such a pious place to make laddus, I would say that PM Modi and the CM should resign. This is about the faith of crores of people", Alvi added. Alvi also highlighted the ongoing tensions. He said, "Whichever government it is, it has been in collusion with the Bharatiya Janata Party." He claimed that the BJP is 'playing with the sentiments of the people of the country' and further insisted that if beef fat is indeed being mixed into laddus, "the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister do not get any right to be in the government." "India is one of the countries that exports the most beef in the world... the amount of beef export happening under BJP, it has never happened before", said the congress leader. Earlier, BJP leader Bhanuprakash Reddy condemned the alleged use of animal fat in the 'Tirupati Prasadam' sweets. Reddy also said that they plan to file a complaint against the previous YSRCP government led by former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. He claimed, "During the tenure of Jagan Mohan Reddy, from 2019 to 2024, TTD used pure cow ghee to prepare laddu," adding that the laddu was later adulterated. "We got a report that vegetable oil and animal fat were mixed in it," he said. Reddy added, "It is a very bad thing that happened in the history of Tirumala... Jagan Mohan Reddy's government wantedly damaged the sentiment of Hindu pilgrims, especially Balaji's devotees." He announced that they are filing a complaint against several officials, including TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made a serious allegation, claiming that the previous YSR Congress government used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam. In a post on X, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip of Naidu, who said, "I am shocked to learn that the YS jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam." YSRCP Leader and former TTD Chairman YV Subbareddy however denies the charge claiming that only organic materials had been used to prepare the Prasadam. "All the ingredients used for Swami's offerings from last three 3 years are all organic ingredients including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programs while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programs to mislead the people," he said. The Tirupati temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, is a very important place of worship, known for its importance among Hindu pilgrims. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tirupati Prasadam row: 'Modi, Naidu should resign if...,' says Congress leader

Indian Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday (Sept 20) called for a detailed probe into Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's allegation that the previous state government used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddu, a consecrated sweet.

Indian Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday (Sept 20) called for a detailed probe into Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's allegation that the previous state government used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddu, a consecrated sweet. Addressing a press conference, Consumer Affairs Minister Joshi said, "Whatever the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said is a very serious matter, it should be investigated in detail and whoever is guilty should be punished." What did Chandrababu Naidu say? On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip of Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Naidu saying that previously animal fat was used in consecrated sweets--'Tirupati Prasadam' instead of 'Ghee' at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. Also read | Pawan Khera blames BJP for creating 'conspiracy theories' around Tirupati Prasadam row "The Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YS Jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam," State Minister Lokesh said in a post on X. 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. Shame on @ysjagan and the @ysrcparty government that couldn’t respect the religious… pic.twitter.com/UDFC2WsoLP — Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) September 18, 2024 × "Shame on YS Jagan and the YSR party government that couldn't respect the religious sentiments of crores of devotees," he added. The charges of Naidu have been denied by former TDP Chairman and YSRCP leader YV Subbareddy who claimed that only organic ingredients were used in the preparation of Prasadam. "All the ingredients used for Swami's offerings from the last three 3 years are all organic ingredients including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programs while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programs to mislead the people," he said. 'Beef tallow, animal fat used in preparation of ghee' Earlier, TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy cited a lab report which said that "beef tallow and animal fat--lard and fish oil--were used in the preparation of ghee, which was supplied to Tirumala." "The lab reports of samples that were sent for testing to the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat certify that beef tallow and animal fat, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee that was supplied to Tirumala and also the S value is only 19.7," Reddy said. "The Hindu religion is offended by this. The 'prasadam' which is offered to the Lord thrice a day has been mixed with this ghee," he added.

Tirupati Prasadam row: Indian minister calls for detailed probe into Andhra CM Naidu's allegation