The politics around the prasadam of Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh has heated up. The test report of the ghee used in the prasadam has confirmed the presence of fish oil and animal fat. This entire incident has caused widespread outrage among saints across the country, who are demanding the immediate dissolution of the temple's trust board. This matter directly involves the faith of millions of devotees, raising the question: who and why did they adulterate the holy prasadam? Who conducted the investigation and in which lab was it done? What did the report reveal?
Let’s find out exactly what this controversy is about.
Actually, on Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the previous government used animal fat and fish oil instead of ghee in the prasadam distributed at Tirupati temple. In June this year, Jagan Mohan Reddy's party lost the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, and Naidu formed the NDA government. On July 9, the temple board sent ghee samples to a livestock lab in Gujarat (NDDB CALF Ltd.), and the lab report was received on July 16, finding adulteration in the ghee from one firm. The National Dairy Development Board's food lab, CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food), has reported that laddu prasadam is being made from ghee prepared using animal fat and fish oil.
CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food) is an analytical laboratory located at NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) in Anand, Gujarat.
The report of September 18
On July 22, the temple trust held a meeting and then took ghee samples on July 23 and sent them to the lab for testing. The report came out on September 18. CM Naidu directly targeted the then Jagan government. The Naidu government said that the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government played with the faith of Hindus, hurt the sanctity of the temple, and greatly tampered with people's beliefs. After my government took over, this was stopped. The latest report is from July.
Source: aajtak
What did the investigation reveal?
The investigation found that the ghee used in these laddus was adulterated. It contained fish oil, animal tallow, and lard. Animal tallow refers to the fat from animals. It also contained lard, which is animal fat. The ghee also had traces of fish oil. According to the report, the laddu prasadam included soybean, sunflower, olive, rapeseed, flaxseed, wheat germ, corn germ, cottonseed, fish oil, coconut and palm kernel fat, palm oil, beef tallow, and lard.
Who prepares the laddu for the prasadam?
Tirupati temple is one of the largest temples in the country. Approximately 30 million devotees visit here annually, which means around 82,000 devotees visit Lord Venkateswara Swamy daily. About 3.50 lakh laddus are prepared annually, given to all devotees as prasadam. The entire arrangement is managed by the committee formed by the Andhra Pradesh state government every two years. This committee is called the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. This committee procures all the ingredients for preparing the laddus for prasadam. These laddus are then sold to the devotees visiting the Tirupati temple at pre-determined prices by the volunteers of this committee.
Source: aajtak
Who supplied the ghee to the temple?
For the past 50 years, Kannadika Milk Cooperative Federation (KMF) has been supplying pure desi ghee to the temple committee at subsidized rates. In July 2023, the company refused to supply at lower rates, following which the then Jagan Mohan Reddy government assigned the responsibility of supplying ghee to five firms. After discrepancies were found in the samples in July, the Naidu government became alert and handed over the supply back to KMF on 29 August.
KMF supplies ghee under the brand name Nandini. In August 2023, when the Jagan Mohan government was in power, KMF President Bhima Naik accused the temple trust of purchasing low-quality ghee. On this, the then officers of the trust board, AV Dharma Reddy, rejected Naik's allegations and said that the temple trust only buys cow ghee from suppliers who meet the uncompromising quality and lowest cost dual standards through the e-tender process. He also said that KMF was not eligible for the tender process. KMF had previously failed to deliver shipments on time.
Plans to blacklist the ghee company
Following the controversy, the government said the contract with the company supplying the ghee has been terminated and plans are being made to blacklist the company. The vigilance is investigating the case. The involved company had been awarded the supply tender just a year ago. Currently, the temple board has formed a four-member committee to monitor the quality of the ghee.
Source: aajtak
In August, the Naidu government made changes to the arrangement of laddu prasadam given at the temple. Now, an Aadhaar card is required for devotees who want to receive laddus without a temple visit. Devotees can now register their Aadhaar cards at designated counters to receive two laddus. Devotees with a token for temple visit can receive one free laddu and buy additional laddus.
Demand for NSA against Jagan Mohan
Lawyer Vineet Jindal has sent a complaint letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs and DGP of Andhra Pradesh, demanding action against former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), and the contractors supplying adulterated ghee with meat for prasadam at Tirupati temple. The complaint seeks FIR registration under sections 152, 192, 196, 298, and 353 of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) against Jagan Mohan Reddy and others, and also applies the National Security Act (NSA) against them.
BJP accuses non-Hindu appointments to the board
Currently, a tussle has erupted between TDP and YSR Congress over the prasadam at Tirupati temple. Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh said that those mixing animal fat and fish oil in the holy laddu prasadam should face strict action. Karnataka BJP also attacked Jagan Mohan's party, YSR Congress. BJP claims that the previous government in Andhra Pradesh appointed non-Hindus to the Tirupati temple board, compromising our sacred traditions.
Conflict between TDP and YSRCP
YSRCP claimed that Naidu made heinous allegations for political gain. On the other hand, TDP is cornering Jagan Mohan's party with the lab report. On Wednesday, during the NDA legislature party meeting, Naidu claimed the previous government under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy did not even spare the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati and used substandard materials and animal fat for making the laddus.
TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Rami Reddy asserted that the ghee samples provided by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) managing the Venkateswara Swamy temple were confirmed adulterated by the livestock lab in Gujarat. He showed the alleged lab report, which clearly confirmed the presence of beef tallow, lard, and fish oil in the given ghee samples. However, the temple trust did not respond.
YSRCP senior leader and Rajya Sabha member YV Subba Reddy stated that Naidu's accusations have shaken the temple's sanctity foundation and hurt the devotees' sentiments. Subba Reddy was the temple trust board chairman for four years.
Source: aajtak
Subba Reddy said, 'I am a Hindu and a worshipper of Venkateswara Swamy.' He challenged CM Naidu to swear before God that his allegations are true or false. If Naidu fails to prove his allegations and offer evidence, we will take legal action and approach the Supreme Court.
YSRCP senior leader B Karunakar Reddy accused Naidu of making accusations for political gain. Karunakar Reddy was also the chairman of the temple trust board twice. On the other hand, state Congress President YS Sharmila demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. Andhra Pradesh BJP stated that immediate investigation should be conducted on all issues that hurt Hindus' sentiments during the previous government. Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that Hindus worshipping Lord Venkateswara have faced deep betrayal of trust.
