INDIA

Controversy Over Tirupati Laddus: Animal Fat Detected, Judicial Inquiry Demanded

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Friday said that low-quality ghee and animal fat were found in the samples of ladavas being distributed as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.

Abhijit

PTI, Amravati
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Friday said that low-quality ghee and animal fat were found in the samples of ladavas being distributed as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. However, the samples of our products have been duly certified by the concerned authorities, the firm supplying the copra to Uttam Mandir said. Former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that Naidu was trying to gain political mileage out of the case.

TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said at a press conference on Friday that animal fat was found in the selected samples of the ladavas. The temple does not have a testing facility to detect adulteration of tapioca and the supplier of tapioca to the temple has taken advantage of the fact that no outside facility is being used for it, the Devasthanam alleged. He said the tests are expensive. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu refuted the allegations.

Wednesday's hearing
YSRCP leader Subba Reddy has filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the High Court has agreed to hear it on Wednesday, September 25. Reddy has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Chandrababu has nothing to say.
Former chief minister and YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy criticised the state government over the incident. Reddy alleged that Naidu's government has completed 100 days and has nothing to say, so he is raising the issue to divert the attention of the people. Union Health Minister J P Nadda has sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh government on the matter