Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday slammed his predecessor and YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy over the ongoing controversy on the preparation of Tirupati Balaji prasadam laddoos and said that Reddy is shamelessly trying to justify his crime. The Andhra CM also constituted a high-level committee to probe the matter.
While addressing the reporters in Vijayawada, Naidu alleged that several procedures to procure ghee by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) were altered during the YSRCP government regime.
“Jagan is shamelessly trying to justify his crime. Regarding the false positive factor mentioned in the report, Jagan has given a lengthy explanation and concluded that the tests conducted by scientists and labs are false. He is making these baseless, unfounded statements sitting at home,” the chief minister said.
Naidu also claimed that appointments to the TTD board became like “gambling” during the previous government and there were instances of appointing people who had no faith and giving preferences to non-Hindus on the board.
He said, as per the earlier conditions, the ghee supplier should have at least three years of experience. However, after Reddy came to power it was reduced to one year. The CM also said that the required turnover of the supplier was also reduced to Rs 150 crore from the earlier Rs 250 crore. The chief minister asked how one can supply pure ghee at Rs 319 when even palm oil is costlier than that.
Referring to the letter written by Reddy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the YSRCP chief was trying to counterattack by shooting off letters. He said that Reddy claimed that all the tests and due procedures were followed while procuring the ghee.
“TTD doesn’t have labs equipped to test adulteration. How can he claim this? TTD only does simple tests. Only NABL labs are eligible to do adulteration tests. Without TTD having the infrastructure, how can he claim all thorough tests were done?” he said.
Naidu further lashed out at Reddy over the latter’s claim that Naidu is using god for political gains and insulting Lord Venkateshwara Swamy. Reddy had said that Naidu alleged ghee adulteration in Tirupati prasadam laddoos to divert attention from his 100 days governance in Andhra Pradesh.
#WATCH | Vijayawada | Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu says, “…What nonsense he (Jagan Mohan Reddy) is talking. Not even 100 days we have in govt. You tell the policies, criticise my policy, and I’ll answer what you have done, what I have done. But, you wanted to divert,… pic.twitter.com/qbM8LKPDmG— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2024
“…What nonsense he (Jagan Mohan Reddy) is talking. Not even 100 days we have in govt. You tell the policies, criticise my policy, and I’ll answer what you have done, what I have done. But, you wanted to divert, but if you do so, more and more sentiments will hurt. I am taking three angles, first – purification, according to traditions. I am ordering an inquiry at the IGP level. Only those who have beliefs will be there in the management committee. Finally, we will prepare SOP for all the temples,” Naidu further said.
JAGAN REDDY WRITES LETTER TO PM MODI
Earlier today, Reddy sought PM Modi’s intervention into the Tirupati laddu adulteration issue and that Naidu be reprimanded. While dubbing the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister as a “habitual liar”, Reddy alleged that CM Naidu has stooped so low as to hurt the beliefs of crores of people purely for political objectives.
“A robust procurement process has been in place since decades, the same was followed during TDP (Telugu Desam Party) government from 2014 to 2019,” he said.
He questioned why Naidu is highlighting the matter now if the adulterated samples were identified two months ago, and the report was also released then. “I request the PM to reprimand Naidu in the severest way for spreading lies,” Jagan wrote in his letter to the prime minister.
He detailed the process undertaken at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the board that manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy in Tirumala, for accepting ghee. He said Naidu’s actions lowered not only the stature of CM but also that of everyone in public life, the sanctity of the board and its practices.
“Sir, the entire country looks to you at this crucial juncture. It is very imperative that Mr Naidu be reprimanded in the severest way for his shameless act of spreading lies and the truth be brought to light. Sir, this would help allay the suspicions that Mr Naidu has created in the minds of crores of Hindu devotees and restore their faith in sanctity of TTD,” he wrote in his letter.
WHAT TTD SAID?
Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) Board Shamala Rao said that the temple trust don’t have the in-house capacity to test the product.
“We established a system of testing ghee for adulteration in TTD for the first time in the last three months, never in the history of TTD we have tested ghee for adulteration in outside labs. We don’t have the in-house capacity to test. It is the first time that we have started checking and we will continue that. If someone tries to supply any adulterated thing, we will naturally blacklist them and other legal actions will be taken. TTD also trying to establish an in-house lab…” she said.
LADDOO CONTROVERSY REACHES COURT
Senior YSRCP leader Y V Subba Reddy has filed a petition in Andhra Pradesh High Court over the ongoing controversy over the prasadam laddoos. He sought to file a lunch motion petition On Friday for unearthing the truth surrounding alleged use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddoos during the previous YSRCP regime. The High Court Will Hear the petition on September 25.
Additionally, a petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court alleging that the act violates fundamental Hindu religious customs and deeply hurts the sentiments of countless devotees.
WHAT’S THE CONTROVERSY?
A massive row erupted on Wednesday after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that animal fat was used in Tirupati laddoos during the previous government when YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was the Chief Minister of the state.
He claimed that the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddoos.
(With inputs from agencies)