Amaravati, February 22, 2026: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu strongly condemned YSRCP MLCs for allegedly insulting Lord Venkateswara during a Legislative Council protest over the Tirumala ghee adulteration issue.
The opposition members held photos of the deity as placards while wearing footwear and later tossed them on tables, an act Naidu described as deeply disrespectful to the revered Lord of Tirumala.
Speaking at a public event in Vinukonda, Palnadu district, the CM linked the protest to efforts by YSRCP to deflect blame from past irregularities in ghee supplies to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
Investigations, including by a Special Investigation Team and lab tests, confirmed the ghee was adulterated with animal fat and chemically produced, not pure. Naidu stressed protecting the sanctity of all faiths and highlighted reforms in TTD administration since his government took office to restore trust and devotion.
