TIRUPATI: Amid the controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddu prasadam, devotees have been gathering in large numbers at the Tirumala Venkateshwara temple during the ongoing Poratasi month, which is significant because it is believed to be when Lord Venkateswara descended to Earth. The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is located in the Tirumala hills of Tirupati district in Andhra Pradesh.
In response to the allegations of adulteration in the Tirupati Prasadam (laddus), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has announced the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter. “We’re creating an SIT composed of officers with ranks of IGP and above. They will provide a report to the government, and we will take appropriate action based on that to prevent recurrence,” Naidu stated.
During a press conference at his residence in Vijayawada, Naidu remarked, “In the past five years, many inappropriate incidents occurred in Tirumala, often provoking protests from devotees. The laddu prasad and food served there are made from pure ingredients and are unique in taste. When I served as CM, I involved Ramdev Baba to plant numerous Ayurvedic trees around the temple.”
Naidu also criticized Jagan Mohan Reddy, claiming he filled the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board with his allies and exploited TTD for political advantage. “The appointments to the trust board resembled a gamble. Temple tickets were sold based on favoritism. We even had to protest during one visit to Tirupati. Their board appointments prioritized personal connections and included non-Hindus, all to capitalize politically,” he accused.
He pointed to Jagan Mohan Reddy as the source of the adulteration in the Tirupati Prasadam’s ghee, asserting, “The YSRCP lifted restrictions, allowing unqualified suppliers to deliver ghee, leading to adulteration.”
Naidu recounted that upon taking office, he prioritized addressing the issues in Tirumala and appointed Shyamala Rao as TTD Executive Officer to rectify the problems.
In response, Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Naidu of attempting to “irreparably damage the sanctity and reputation” of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The former chief minister wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the prasadam controversy, explaining that the ghee procurement has long followed an e-tendering process that occurs every six months, unchanged for decades.
On September 19, Naidu reignited political tensions by alleging that the ghee used in making the Tirupati laddu prasadam contained animal fat during the previous YSRCP government.
