Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday attacked the previous YSRCP government of the state, alleging that several procedures for purchasing ghee by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) were changed during the tenure of the previous government.
Naidu said that due to this he has decided to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the irregularities. Naidu also alleged that during the previous state government, appointments in the TTD board had become like “gambling” and there were instances of appointing people who had no faith and non-Hindus were given preference in the board. Speaking to reporters at his residence, Naidu said that people’s sentiments were hurt after the revelations regarding the laddu that animal fat was allegedly used in its manufacture.
Naidu said, “SIT will be formed under the supervision of an officer of IG (Inspector General) level or above. It will investigate all the reasons, misuse of power and report to the government. The government will take strict steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents (adulteration in laddu), there will be no compromise in this.” Chief Minister Naidu said that no one has the right to play with the emotions of the people. Naidu said that Shanti Homam Panchagavya Prokshana (ritual cleaning) will be done in Tirumala on Monday to remove the alleged defilement.
He said, “Shanti Homam Panchagavya Prokshana will be performed at Bangaru Bavi (Golden Well) Yagyashala (ritual place) at Srivari (Sri Venkateswara) temple from 6 am to 10 am on Monday.” Naidu said that according to the earlier conditions, the ghee supplier should have at least three years of experience. He said that however, after Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power, it was reduced to one year. He also said that the required turnover of the supplier was also reduced from Rs 250 crore to Rs 150 crore.
Naidu questioned how can someone give pure ghee for Rs 319 when even ‘palm oil’ is more expensive than this. He said that AR Dairy Foods Private Limited started supplying ghee from June 12, 2024. Referring to the letter written by Jagan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that the Yuvajana Sramika Raithu Congress Party (YSRCP) chief is trying to retaliate by writing the letter. Venkateswara Swamy’s Prasadam has a special place as it contains pure ingredients and there has been no compromise in the quality of making it for the last 300 years.
A few days ago, during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) legislature party meeting, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief had claimed that the previous YSR Congress Party government did not even spare the Sri Venkateswara temple and used substandard material and animal fat to make laddus. Two days later, on September 20, TTD executive officer J Shyamala Rao said at a press conference that laboratory tests had revealed the presence of animal fat and pig fat in selected samples and the board was in the process of blacklisting the contractor who supplied the “adulterated” ghee.