Controversy has erupted over the Tirupati Laddu following comments made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu about its sanctity. Lab reports alleging the presence of animal fat and fish oil in the sacred Laddu sparked a massive social media backlash, escalating the issue beyond the Telugu states to a national level. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has called for the establishment of a Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. During the pre-release event of Karthi’s film Sathyam Sundaram (Meiyazhagan in Tamil), a meme about the Laddu was shown, prompting Karthi to comment. The actor stated, “We should not talk about the Laddu now. It’s a sensitive topic. Let’s leave it aside.” This statement quickly went viral, catching the attention of Pawan Kalyan, who criticized the actor and his team.
Pawan Kalyan responded, saying, “People are making fun of the Laddu. I saw at a film event that someone said the Laddu is a sensitive topic. Don’t ever say that! I respect you as actors, but when it comes to Sanatana Dharma, think a hundred times before speaking.”
In response, Karthi swiftly apologized on social media, saying, “Dear Pawan Kalyan sir, with deep respect for you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions in high regard. Best regards.
