YSRCP accuses Naidu, Pawan Kalyan of diversionary politics over Tirumala laddu issue

YSR Congress Party Visakhapatnam district president K. K. Raju on Tuesday criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for indulging in what he described as distorted politics over the Tirumala laddu prasadam issue to divert public attention from governance failures and unfulfilled election promises.

Addressing a press conference at the YSRCP office here, Mr. Raju alleged that the NDA government had been hurting the sentiments of devotees of Lord Venkateswara for over a year. He warned that Mr. Naidu would have to pay a price for what he termed a misinformation campaign centred on Tirumala.

He claimed that instead of tendering an apology after the CBI-SIT findings reportedly stated that no animal fat was present, the coalition government continued to shift narratives and level fresh allegations.

Mr. Raju said that rather than ordering institutional inquiries and allowing the law to take its course, the Chief Minister had chosen to make public allegations and run media campaigns, which, he alleged, had damaged the reputation of the temple and shaken the faith of devotees. Terming it diversionary politics, he urged the public and religious leaders to question attempts to politicise a sensitive religious issue and said people would ultimately hold the government accountable.