In one of his first comments since the Tirupati laddoo row blew over, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said that Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP government is “doing politics in the name of god” as he refused claims of animal fat being used in Tirupati temple’s prasad.
Earlier this week, Andhra CM Naidu made bombshell allegations against his predecessor YRSCP government that the prasad offered to devotees at the revered Hindu temple of Tirupati contained animal fat and fish oil. He backed his claims by revealing a lab report released by the Gujarat-based Centre of Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food that confirmed that the laddoos had traces of animal fat.
The report was published in July and flagged by the Telegu Desam Party this week. However, Reddy said that the Naidu’s government had already taken over the state’s rule by that time. He said, “We got to know that the quality of ghee was bad and immediately informed the Chief Minister, Naidu.”
“The tender process occurs every six months, and the qualification criteria have not changed for decades. Suppliers must provide an NABL certificate and a product quality certificate. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams collects samples from the ghee, and only products that pass certification are used. TDP is politicising religious matters. We have rejected the products in our regime 18 times,” he added.
‘Will write to PM, CJI’
The former CM has rejected the “unwarranted and baseless” allegations made by TDP and said, “I myself am writing a letter to the Prime Minister. I am also writing a letter to the Chief Justice of India. I am explaining to them as to how Chandrababu Naidu twisted the facts.”
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that he will look into the matter and take “
action” against those found responsible.
Laddoo row reaches SC
A lawyer on Friday filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the controversy over Tirupati temple prasad, arguing that it violates “fundamental Hindu religious customs and deeply hurts the sentiments of countless devotees.”
In a petition addressed to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, lawyer Satyam Singh expressed that the accusations surrounding the prasad offered at the temple overseen by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) have offended the feelings of devotees. He argued that the alleged use of animal fat in the laddoos infringes upon Article 25 of the Constitution, which safeguards the right to freedom of religion, including the practice of religious traditions.
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