HYDERABAD: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has strongly refuted claims made by current Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu regarding the preparation of Tirupati Balaji prasadam laddoos, asserting that no violations occurred during his administration. Reddy labeled the ongoing controversy as unwarranted and accused Naidu of engaging in “pity politics” in the name of God.
Reddy emphasized that the ghee used for making the laddoos is sourced from NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) certified companies and is subject to rigorous testing. “The process of ghee procurement is totally transparent,” he stated.
He detailed that the Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) conducts its own quality tests on the ghee three times, a practice that has been in place for years.
In light of the controversy, Reddy announced plans to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud to clarify how Naidu “twisted the facts” regarding the issue. “I am explaining to them how Chandrababu Naidu twisted the facts and why action should not be taken against him,” he noted.
Reddy accused Naidu of politicizing religious matters to distract from his administration’s shortcomings in the first 100 days of governance, claiming Naidu is using the allegations to divert public attention from unmet promises.
He called the allegations of ghee adulteration atrocious, questioning the fairness of playing with the sentiments of millions of devotees worldwide. “The tender process occurs every six months, and the qualification criteria have not changed for decades,” he added.
The Tirupati laddoo controversy has reached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, where senior YSRCP leader Y.V. Subba Reddy has filed a petition regarding the alleged use of animal fat in the laddoos. The court is set to hear the petition on September 25.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has sought a detailed report from Naidu about the allegations, stating that the Centre will coordinate with state authorities to ensure compliance with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations.
Additionally, YS Sharmila, Andhra Pradesh Congress President and Jagan Reddy’s sister, has called for a CBI probe into Naidu’s claims, condemning both Naidu and Reddy for engaging in what she termed “heinous politics” over the laddoos.
The controversy erupted after Naidu claimed that animal fat was used in the laddoos during Reddy’s tenure, alleging that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams used substandard ingredients. TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy further claimed that a laboratory in Gujarat confirmed the presence of beef tallow, lard, and fish oil in the ghee samples provided by TTD.
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