New Delhi, September 22: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday called for a fast-track inquiry into the alleged use of 'animal fat' prasadam for Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Tirupati. "It is very surprising that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer, appointed by Chandrababu Naidu's government, contradicts the claims of adulteration in the prasadam. This kind of atmosphere is bad for the faith of crores of devotees. A fast-track inquiry should take place and the strictest punishment to the guilty must be meted out," Khera told ANI.

The row comes days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, a sweet offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government. Meanwhile, Surjit Singh Yadav, President of Hindu Sena Samiti, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court on Saturday to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations of using animal fat in preparation of prasadam for Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple. Tirupati Laddu Prasadam Controversy: Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan To Seek Atonement for Alleged Use of Animal Fat at Tirumala Temple.

The President of Hindu Sena Samiti also sought registration of the complaint and investigation and prosecution of the persons involved in the alleged mixing of animal fat. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Sunday started 11 days 'Prayaschitta Diksha' at Sri Dasavatara Venkateswara Swamy Temple, in Guntur as penance for the alleged use of 'animal fat' in Tirupati Laddu Prasadam. In a post on X, Pawan Kalyan announced that he will fast for 11 days to seek forgiveness from Lord Balaji. Tirupati Laddu Prasadam Controversy: Will Consult Pontiffs, Experts on Future Course of Action, Says Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu.

"I am deeply hurt on a personal level by the malicious attempts made to infuse impurity in the prasad of Sri Tirupati Balaji Dham, the center of our culture, faith, belief and devotion, and to tell you the truth, I feel cheated from within. Right now, I am taking a vow to seek forgiveness from the Lord and am taking a vow to fast for eleven days. In the latter part of the eleven-day Atonement Initiation, on October 1 and 2, I will go to Tirupati and have a personal darshan of the Lord and beg for forgiveness and then my Atonement Initiation will be completed in front of the Lord," Pawan Kalyan tweeted on X. Reacting to the allegations, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged on Friday that the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) is "politicising religious matters."

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