YSRCP accuses ruling alliance of politicising Tirumala issue

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Visakhapatnam district president K.K. Raju accused the ruling alliance on Tuesday of exploiting the Tirumala laddu issue to divert public attention and emotionally manipulate devotees.

During a press conference at the party’s district office, Mr. Raju criticized the Chief Minister for failing to fulfill election promises and provide effective governance. He claimed that the government was politicizing Tirumala and Lord Venkateswara to cover up its shortcomings.

Describing this approach as irresponsible, Mr. Raju stated that leaders should not involve matters of faith in political debates. He warned that those spreading false claims about Tirumala would face public scrutiny.

He raised specific questions regarding how ghee tankers, previously rejected by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams during the Chief Minister’s earlier tenure, later entered through unofficial channels. He also questioned the approval for Bole Baba Dairy and the bulk supply order for 82,000 kg of ghee issued in April 2019, which coincided with the election period.

Mr. Raju mentioned that the CBI SIT chargesheet highlighted these transactions and raised serious concerns. He urged the government to respond with facts instead of political rhetoric.

Referring to remarks made last year about animal fat in laddu preparation, he stated that those comments damaged the sanctity of the Tirumala temple. He claimed that the ruling alliance faced embarrassment after the CBI SIT reportedly found those allegations to be incorrect.

Instead of acknowledging the mistake, he alleged, the government continued to amplify the issue through Ministers and segments of the media. He accused alliance leaders of disseminating shifting and unverified claims to confuse the public.

Mr. Raju emphasized that the National Dairy Development Board and the National Dairy Research Institute tested samples collected from ghee tankers that were sent to TTD. He urged the government to rely on institutional inquiries rather than public campaigns.