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The controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddu, a sacred offering at the Tirumala Venkateswara temple, has ignited a political firestorm in Andhra Pradesh. The issue centers around allegations of adulteration in the ghee used to make the laddus, with the state's Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, accusing the previous government led by YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy of compromising the temple's religious purity.
Naidu cited a lab report from Gujarat that detected traces of fish oil, beef tallow, and lard in the ghee supplied by a Dindigul-based company, AR Foods. Beef tallow, a substance derived from beef fat, has been a contentious issue in India due to religious sensitivities. The company, which had the lowest bid of ₹320 per litre, vehemently denied the allegations, stating that they have a long-standing reputation for quality and have never engaged in adulteration. They also pointed out that they supplied only a small percentage of the total ghee procured by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the temple.
The TTD, however, stands by its findings and is in the process of blacklisting the contractor. They argue that the low bid price made it impossible to procure pure cow ghee, a claim supported by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which had initially opted out of the contract due to the unviability of the price. The controversy has sparked a political battle, with the YSRCP accusing Naidu of using the issue to divert attention from his government's shortcomings. The issue has also reached the national level, with Union Health Minister JP Nadda requesting a report from the Andhra Pradesh government.
While the TTD has initiated an investigation and plans to install an in-house adulteration testing machine to ensure food safety, the controversy highlights the complexities of managing religious institutions and the potential for political exploitation. The issue raises important questions about the procurement processes, quality control mechanisms, and the role of religious institutions in public life. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the allegations of adulteration are substantiated and what consequences will be faced by those involved.
Source: Tirupati laddu row explained: Did bid for lower price lead to ‘adulteration’?