Tirupati Laddu Controversy: Chandrababu Naidu Government Begins Sanitisation Efforts At Tirumala

Amid the ongoing controversy over adulteration of Ghee used in Tirupati laddus, Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has accused the earlier YSRCP government of desecrating Tirumala, the abode of revered Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.

Further, the state government has initiated the steps to sanitise the temple.

Naidu further claimed that the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government had served substandard food to the Tirumala devotees to not only undermine its holiness but also hurt the devotees’ sentiments.

“After finding the evidence that substandard ingredients were used to make prasadam (consecrated food), we will take stringent action against the people responsible for it,” Naidu said in a press release.

"We will not tolerate irregularities and our efforts will ensure that the sanctity of the temple is upheld," he stated, as the new administration moves forward with rigorous testing and oversight of all food served to devotees.

He made these remarks on the sidelines of inaugurating an Anna Canteen at the secretariat on Thursday.

Anna Canteens provide affordable meals for underprivileged people.

The Andhra CM said Tirumala deity Sri Venkateswara Swamy is one of the most revered Gods for the Hindus and alleged that the YSRCP government had completely desecrated it.

Meanwhile, IT Minister Nara Lokesh alleged that the quality of 'annadanam' (free meals for Tirumala devotees) and the famous Tirupati laddu had declined during the YSRCP government’s tenure.

“Corruption was done unlike any other time before. As part of that, adulterated ghee was used. Immediately after the NDA government was formed, a new executive officer (EO) was appointed and all the powers were vested in the EO to sanitise the entire system to ensure that earlier irregularities do not recur,” Lokesh told reporters at Renigunta Airport,

Lokesh said that, under Naidu’s instructions, ghee, rice, and all vegetables were thoroughly tested to maintain quality.

Ghee samples were sent to the NDDB lab for analysis, and the results were released.

“Very clearly it was established in the report that lard, beef fat and fish oil were there. If Chandrababu Naidu says something, he will back it up with evidence...” added Lokesh.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje also accused the Jagan Mohan Reddy government of attempting to remove photos of Lord Srinivasa and Padmavati from colleges in Tirumala.

"Jagan & Co tried to remove Lord Srinivasa and Padmavati's photos from Tirumala colleges, tried placing non-Hindu symbols in the hills, appointed a non-Hindu as board chair, and added animal fat to the holy prasadam. Sorry, Lord Venkateswara-for this anti Hindu politics around us," she wrote on X.

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