The political situation in Andhra Pradesh has heated up over the Tirupati Balaji temple prasad. The report on the ghee used in the prasad has come out, confirming the use of a mixture of fish oil and animal fat. Sadhus across the country are resentful over this incident. The saints say that the temple trust board should be dissolved immediately. Because, this matter directly concerns the faith of crores of devotees. In this case, the question is who adulterated the holy prasad and why? Who did the testing and which laboratory did it? What is revealed in the report? Let us know what this whole controversy is about?
In fact, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday claimed that animal fat and fish oil were used instead of ghee in the prasad of the Tirupati temple in the previous government. Naidu formed the NDA government in June this year after Jagan Mohan Reddy’s party lost the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections. On July 9, the temple board sent the ghee sample to the Gujarat-based livestock laboratory (NDDB CALF Ltd.) and on July 16, the laboratory report found adulteration of ghee from a company. CALF, the food laboratory of the National Dairy Development Board, said that Prasadam laddus were made with ghee made from animal fat and fish oil.
CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Animal Husbandry and Food) is an analytical laboratory of NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) located in Anand, Gujarat.
Now the report was released on September 18
However, the temple trust held a meeting on July 22 and then on July 23, samples of ghee were taken and sent to the laboratory for testing. Its report was out on September 18. CM Naidu directly put the then Jagan government in the dock. The Naidu government said that the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government had played with the faith of Hindus. The sanctity of the temple was violated and the faith of the people was greatly violated. After my government came to power, this has been banned. The report that has just come out is from July.
What did the investigation find?
Investigation revealed that the ghee used in these laddus was adulterated. Fish oil, animal fat and lard were found in it. Animal fat refers to the fat present in the body of animals. It was also mixed with lard. Lard means animal fat. Fish oil was also found in this ghee. The report said that Prasadam Laddu contained soya, sunflower, olive, rapeseed, linseed, wheat germ, corn germ, cottonseed, fish oil, coconut and palm kernel fat, palm oil and tallow (beef fat) and also contained lard.
Who prepares laddus for prasad?
Tirupati temple is one of the largest temples in the country. Every year around three crore devotees come here for darshan i.e. around 82,000 devotees visit Lord Venkateswara Swamy every day. Around 3.5 lakh laddus are prepared. Laddus are given as Prasad to all devotees. The entire system is run by a committee which is formed by the Andhra Pradesh government every two years. The name of this committee is – Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. This committee buys all the raw materials for making Prasad laddus. These laddus are then sold by the volunteers of this committee to the devotees visiting the Tirupati temple at a pre-determined price.
Who supplies ghee to temples?
For the past 50 years, the Karnataka Cooperative Milk Federation (KMF) has been supplying pure Indian ghee to the temple committee at a concessional price. In July 2023, the company refused to supply at a lower price, following which the then Jagan Mohan Reddy government handed over the responsibility of supplying ghee to five companies. After irregularities were found in the samples in July this year, the Naidu government became alert and again handed over the supply to KMF on August 29.
In fact, KMF supplies Nandini brand ghee. In August 2023, when the Jagan Mohan government was in power, KMF chairman Bhima Naik accused the temple trust of buying inferior quality ghee. In this regard, the then trust board official AV Dharma Reddy dismissed Naik’s allegations and said that the temple trust only purchases ghee from suppliers whose quality is not compromised and the cost is at least Rs. He also said that since KMF was not eligible to participate in the bidding process. Earlier, he also failed to deliver the goods on time.
Ghee companies to be blacklisted
After the controversy, the government said it had terminated the contract with the company that procured the ghee. It is preparing to blacklist him. The case has been handed over to Vigilance for investigation. The company concerned had received the tender for supply a year ago. Currently, the temple board has formed a four-member committee to oversee the quality and monitoring of ghee.
In August, the Naidu government had made changes in the arrangements regarding Laddus Prasadam at the temple. Now, Aadhaar cards have become mandatory for devotees who get laddus without darshan. Devotees can now register their Aadhaar cards at designated counters to get two laddus. Devotees who get darshan tokens can also buy additional laddus in addition to getting one free laddu as before.
Demand for NSA sanctions against Jagan Mohan
In the present case, lawyer Vineet Jindal has sent complaint letters to the Home Department and Andhra Pradesh DGP and filed a complaint against former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) officials and contractors who supplied adulterated non-vegetarian ghee for prasad at the Tirupati temple, demanding action. In the complaint, it was sought that an FIR be registered against all of them under Sections 152, 192, 196, 298 and 353 of the Indian Judicial Code (i.e. BNS) and imposition of the National Security Act (NSA) against Jaganmohan Reddy and others.
BJP says no non-Hindus should be appointed as board members
Currently, a row has broken out between the TDP and the YSR Congress over the Tirupati Prasad temple issue. BJP MLA T Raja Singh from Telangana said strict action should be taken against those who mix animal fat and fish oil in the holy Laddu Prasadam. The Karnataka BJP also attacked the YSR Congress party led by Jagan Mohan. The BJP said that the previous government in Andhra Pradesh had appointed non-Hindus as members of the Tirupati temple board, thereby damaging our sacred traditions.
TDP vs YSRCP
The YSRCP claimed that the outrageous allegations were levelled against Naidu for political gains. Meanwhile, the TDP is cornering Jagan Mohan’s party with the lab report. During the NDA legislature meeting on Wednesday, Naidu claimed that the former YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government did not even spare the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat to make laddus.
TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Raman Reddy claimed that the ghee sample provided by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the Venkateswara Swamy temple, was adulterated, which was confirmed by the Gujarat Livestock Laboratory. He produced the alleged laboratory report which apparently confirmed the presence of beef tallow, lard and fish oil in the ghee sample given. However, the temple trust did not respond to this.
Senior YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy, who has been the chairman of the temple trust board for four years, said Naidu’s allegations had shaken the temple’s sanctity and hurt the sentiments of devotees.
Subha Reddy said, I am a Hindu and worship Venkateswara Swamy. He asked CM Naidu to come before God and swear on oath whether his allegations are true or false. If Naidu fails to substantiate his allegations and provide evidence, we will take legal action and file a case in the Supreme Court.
Senior YSRCP leader B Karunakar Reddy claimed that Naidu had levelled the allegations for political gains. Karunakar Reddy had also served as the chairman of the trust board twice. Meanwhile, Congress president YS Sharmila demanded a CBI probe into the matter. The Andhra Pradesh BJP said that all issues that hurt the sentiments of Hindus in the previous government should be immediately investigated. Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that the faith of Hindus who worship Lord Venkateswara has been deeply betrayed.
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