CM Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that there will be an SIT investigation into the allegations of adulteration in Tirupati’s Prasadam Laddu. He said that he will not tolerate playing with the sentiments of the people. Targeting the previous YSRCP government of the state, he alleged that during the previous government of the state, many processes of purchasing ghee by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) were changed. Naidu said that due to this he has decided to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the irregularities.
Non-Hindus were given preference in the board
Naidu also alleged that during the previous state government, appointments in the TTD board had become like “gambling” and there were instances of appointing people who had no faith and preference given to non-Hindus in the board. Speaking to reporters at his residence, Naidu said people’s sentiments were hurt following revelations about laddus that allegedly used animal fat in their preparation. “An SIT will be set up under the supervision of an officer of the IG (Inspector General) level or above. It will investigate all the causes, misuse of power and submit a report to the government,” Naidu said.
The government will take strict measures
The government will take strict measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents (adulteration in laddus), there will be no compromise in this. Chief Minister Naidu said nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the people. Naidu said Shanti Homam Panchagavya Prokshana (ritual cleaning) will be done in Tirumala on Monday to remove the alleged defilement. He said, “Shanti Homam Panchagavya Prokshana will be done at Bangaru Bavi (Golden Well) Yagnashala (ritual place) at Srivari (Sri Venkateswara) temple from 6 am to 10 am on Monday.
The previous government relaxed the rules
Naidu said that as per the earlier conditions, the ghee supplier should have at least three years of experience. However, it was reduced to one year after Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power, he said. He also said that the required turnover of the supplier was also reduced from Rs 250 crore to Rs 150 crore earlier. Naidu questioned how can someone give pure ghee for Rs 319 when even ‘palm oil’ is more expensive than this. He said that AR Dairy Foods Private Limited started supplying ghee from June 12, 2024. Referring to the letter written by Jagan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that the Yuvajana Sramika Raithu Congress Party (YSRCP) chief is trying to counterattack by writing the letter.
No compromise in quality
Venkateswara Swamy’s prasadam has a special place as it contains pure ingredients and there has been no compromise in the quality of its preparation for the last 300 years. A few days ago, during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) legislature party meeting, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief had claimed that the previous YSR Congress Party government did not spare even the Sri Venkateswara temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fat to make laddus. Two days later, on September 20, TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said in a press conference that in laboratory tests, the presence of animal fat and pig fat was detected in selected samples and the board is in the process of blacklisting the contractor who supplied the “adulterated” ghee. (Inputs- Bhasha)
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