Flap over laddu: Overlooking more complex issues of hate, violence, discrimination?

By Raqif Makhdoomi* 

Laddu, a popular spherical sweet enjoyed throughout India, is often presented as prasad—a form of religious offering in temples. While this delightful treat usually brings joy to those who taste it, recent events surrounding the laddu from the famous Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh have generated frustration among devotees. The controversy centers around claims that the laddu contains fat from cows and pigs. 

This issue first emerged on July 16, 2024, but has only recently become a media focal point. Current government officials are attempting to pin the blame on their predecessors, yet there seems to be a disconnect. The previous YSR Congress government, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, came to an end on June 12, 2024, well before the date of this incident—which raises questions about how they could be implicated. 

While I have no vested interest in defending the YSR Congress, it is worth noting that the current ruling party, which is aligned with the BJP, includes the Telugu Desam Party, whose support was instrumental in the BJP's rise to power at the center. 

Sadly, the laddu controversy is capturing more headlines than pressing issues that affect the everyday lives of people in India, such as hunger and homelessness. While many individuals go to bed on empty stomachs, the media seems more preoccupied with sensational stories for the sake of ratings, ignoring the plight of people suffering in silence. 

Critical issues like the situation in Manipur and increasing incidents of sexual violence rarely make the headlines, while laddu takes center stage. The media’s selective coverage often includes only certain incidents that fit a specific narrative, such as the recent high-profile case of a doctor being assaulted in West Bengal—where the BJP is not in power. 

Major media outlets have transformed into platforms for BJP propaganda, as seen with programs like ‘Classroom’ on Times Now. Instead of challenging the government, journalists often align themselves with its agenda, leaving little room for dissent or debate. 

Events of violence and sexual assault in BJP-ruled states receive far less scrutiny than those in opposition-held areas

There are troubling inconsistencies in how crimes are reported depending on political control. If incidents like the laddu controversy had occurred in a non-BJP governed state, it is likely that we would have seen widespread protests and communal tensions. 

However, the question remains: why are temple authorities not being investigated or charged when issues arise? The terminology of “anti-national” is often selectively applied, particularly toward minority communities. 

In perusing social media, I stumbled upon a tweet referencing Mangal Pandey, a figure from India’s first war of independence in 1857. The tweet draws a parallel between the historical reluctance to accept cow fat in military ammunition and the current laddu fiasco, suggesting a call for "religious independence" and advocating for a board to oversee temple affairs free from government intervention. 

In stark contrast, a serious crime in Ayodhya involving the rape of a 12-year-old girl has gone largely ignored by the media. Events of violence and sexual assault in BJP-ruled states receive far less scrutiny than those in opposition-held areas. Further, the sluggish response from law enforcement agencies in Uttar Pradesh, particularly regarding the registration of FIRs, underscores a worrying trend of negligence that has not elicited much condemnation, even from the highest levels of government. 

In conclusion, while laddu is a simple mixture of flour, sugar, ghee, and nuts, the political and social context surrounding it reveals a far more complex landscape of hate, violence, and discrimination in India today. 

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Law student and human rights advocate