Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy has responded to allegations of adulterated products in Tirumala temple laddus during his government’s tenure. Reddy accused current CM Chandrababu Naidu of exploiting the Tirupati ghee controversy for political purposes.
CM Naidu had previously claimed that animal fat was used in Tirupati laddus under the YSRCP government, causing a significant political stir on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Reddy stated, “Chandrababu Naidu is employing diversionary tactics with the ghee issue. Using god’s name for political gain is unethical.”
Reddy suggested that the prasad controversy was a ploy to divert attention from Andhra Pradesh’s floods and law and order issues. He accused Naidu of misleading all communities within his first hundred days in office and deliberately creating a diversion with the Tirumala ghee allegations. Reddy expressed disbelief at these tactics, calling them unprecedented.
The former CM explained, “The tender process occurs biannually, with unchanged qualification criteria for decades. Suppliers must provide NABL and product quality certificates. TTD tests ghee samples, and only certified products are used. We rejected products 18 times during our tenure.”
Tirupati prasad controversy: YSRCP Approaches High Court
YSRCP’s lawyer raised the Tirumala Laddu allegations made by CM Naidu in the High Court. They requested an investigation by either a sitting judge or a court-appointed committee. The bench stated that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) would be filed on Wednesday, with arguments to be heard on the same day.
An investigation was requested by either a sitting judge or a court-appointed committee. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) will be filed on Wednesday, with arguments to be heard on the same day. YSRCP condemned Naidu for making serious allegations for political gain, while TDP presented a lab report to support their claims. Naidu accused the former Jagan Mohan Reddy administration of compromising the Tirupati temple’s sanctity by using substandard ingredients. TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy claimed that a Gujarat-based livestock lab confirmed the adulteration of ghee samples provided by the TTD.
YSRCP condemned Naidu for making “serious allegations” for political gain, while TDP presented a lab report to support their claims.
At an NDA legislative meeting, Naidu accused the former Jagan Mohan Reddy administration of compromising the Tirupati temple’s sanctity by using substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in laddu preparation.
TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy claimed that a Gujarat-based livestock lab confirmed the adulteration of ghee samples provided by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.
