Tirupati Prasadam row: BJP’s Karnati Anjaneya Reddy demands action against TTD officials

Nellore (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 21 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and state executive member, Karnati Anjaneya Reddy, has demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman, YV Subba Reddy, and former Executive Officer, Dharma Reddy, over the alleged use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddoos.

Following the allegations of adulteration of ghee used in TTD laddu production, Reddy called for a probe into the irregularities within TTD over the past five years.

Reddy criticised the previous government, led by YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, for compromising TTD’s sanctity and hurting devotees’ sentiments.

He urged the state government to take serious note of the issue and assured that the BJP would also raise the matter at the national level.

Reddy demanded Subba Reddy provide a clear explanation for using adulterated ghee. He alleged that the previous government compromised TTD’s values for commissions and hurt devotees’ sentiments through the laddu scam.

Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Tirumala hills at Tirupati in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh.

The row comes days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, a sweet offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government.

Reacting to the allegations, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged on Friday that the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) is “politicising religious matters.”

“The tender process occurs every six months, and the qualification criteria has not changed for decades. Suppliers must provide an NABL certificate and a product quality certificate. TTD 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,” the former CM said.

Reddy on Friday said that he will write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and claimed that Chandrababu Naidu has twisted the facts.

The YSRCP also moved to the Andhra Pradesh High Court, demanding an investigation into the claims made by the ruling party.

The lawyers representing the YSRCP, requested the court that either a sitting judge or a committee should be appointed by the High Court to investigate the claims made by the Chief Minister.