'When it comes to secularism, it must be mutual': Pawan Kalyan responds to Prakash Raj on Tirupati laddoo row

Pawan Kalyan, who is the chief of the Jana Sena and part of the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh as well as the Centre, had spoken out about the report that found traces of animal fat in the form of beef tallow, fish oil, and lard (pig fat) in the ghee used for the laddoos when YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy was in power.

The allegation was first made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

Responding to Kalyan's comments, Prakash Raj had said that the politician is part of the ruling coalition in the state and should focus on investigating the matter rather than provoking communal tensions.

During his visit to the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada on Tuesday to perform a purification ritual as part of his 11-day 'Prayaschitta Diksha' (penance for atonement) over the adulteration, Pawan Kalyan slammed Prakash Raj for questioning his secular credentials.

"I am addressing the sanctity of Hinduism and issues like food adulteration. Why should I not speak about these matters? I respect you Prakash Raj, and when it comes to secularism, it must be mutual. I do not understand why you are criticising me. Should I not speak out against attacks on Sanatana Dharma? Prakash should learn a lesson," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

"The film industry and others should not make light of this issue; I am very serious about Sanatana Dharma. Many critics have targeted Ayyappa and Goddess Saraswati. Sanatana Dharma is of utmost importance. Every Hindu should take responsibility in this regard. If similar issues arose in other religions, there would be a widespread agitation," he added.

Raj posted a video on X to clarify that he had been misinterpreted and would reply to Kalyan's questions when he returned to India after a shoot.

"Dear Pawan Kalyan garu, I saw your press meet. What I have said and what you have misinterpreted is surprising. I am shooting abroad; I will come back to reply your questions. Meanwhile, I would appreciate if you could go through my tweet earlier and understand," he wrote with the video.

The controversy escalated last week when the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), responsible for managing the Tirupati temple, confirmed lab reports that supported claims of animal fat in the temple's laddoos.

The TTD revealed that tests on the ghee used for the 'prasad' detected the presence of animal fat, including lard (pig fat).

The supplier of the adulterated ghee has since been blacklisted, and legal proceedings are underway.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu slammed the previous YSRCP government, accusing it of compromising the sanctity of the Tirupati laddoos by using impure ghee.

He further said that his administration had replaced the supplier with Karnataka's Nandini brand to restore the purity of the prasad.

Meanwhile, YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed the accusations as "diversion politics," claiming that Naidu fabricated the controversy to shift attention from his government’s failures during its first 100 days in power.

The issue has also drawn attention from the central government.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda has sought a detailed report from the Andhra Pradesh government, while Food Minister Pralhad Joshi has called for a thorough investigation into the matter.