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The ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, a sacred offering at the renowned temple in Andhra Pradesh, has taken a significant turn with the Supreme Court ordering a fresh investigation and the formation of an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT). This decision comes in the wake of accusations made by former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy against incumbent CM Chandrababu Naidu, whom he accuses of spreading “blatant lies” to exploit religious sentiment for political gain.
Reddy, in a press conference following the Supreme Court order, highlighted the court's remarks about Naidu's comments hurting Hindu sentiments and warned against using religious matters for political purposes. He emphasized that the court's decision to order a fresh probe effectively negates the SIT formed by Naidu. The court's directive mandates the SIT to comprise two officials each from the CBI and the Andhra Pradesh Police, along with a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Jagan Reddy further criticized Naidu, stating that the sanctity of the Tirupati temple and its prasadam (sacred offering) was compromised by Naidu's false allegations. He asserted that the court itself questioned Naidu's motives for making accusations against the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the temple. The controversy erupted last month when Naidu claimed that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during Reddy's previous regime, triggering a significant political row.
Reddy expressed dismay at Naidu's continued dissemination of false information, even after the Supreme Court order, and demanded that he feel ashamed for his actions. He refuted Naidu's social media claims that the Supreme Court expressed anger towards the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), the party Reddy leads. He highlighted that during Naidu's tenure as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019, tankers carrying ingredients for the laddus were rejected 14 times due to failing quality checks.
Reddy maintained that the TTD has implemented a robust system for manufacturing prasadam, ensuring quality control at every stage. He emphasized that tankers are not allowed to enter the TTD premises without passing rigorous quality checks, which include three separate tests. If a tanker fails even a single test, it is immediately rejected. This stringent protocol aims to guarantee the highest quality standards for the Tirupati laddus, which hold immense religious significance for millions of devotees.
Source: Tirupati Laddus row: ‘Chandrababu Naidu spreading blatant lies’, says Jagan Reddy after SC order