YSRCP desecrated Tirumala, sanitisation has begun: Naidu

PTI Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has alleged that the previous YSRCP government had desecrated Tirumala, the abode of world-renowned Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, but noted the sanitisation process has already begun. The CM further alleged that the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led 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,” said Naidu in a press release.

He made these comments on the sidelines of inaugurating an Anna Canteen at the secretariat on Thursday. Anna Canteens offer subsidised meals for poor people. The chief minister 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 claimed that the quality of ‘annadanam’ (free food for Tirumala devotees) and Tirupati laddu diminished under the YSRCP government. “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. As part of that endeavour, he said that ghee, rice and all vegetables were tested following Naidu’s directives to maintain quality while the EO specifically dispatched ghee samples to the NDDB lab, whose results were disseminated today.

Andhra CM Naidu using god for political gains: YSRCP chief Jagan on laddu row

YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday hit out at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the ghee adulteration in Tirumala, saying the latter was trying to divert public attention from his 100 days of rule. Addressing a press conference, he said Naidu is such a person who will use god also for political gains. “This is a diversion politics. On one hand, people are expressing their anger at Chandrababu Naidu’s hundred days rule. They are demanding what happened to their “Super six” (poll promises).

In order to divert people’s attention, this concocted story,” he said. The ghee adulteration allegations are atrocious, he said, and asked is it fair to play with sentiments of crores of devotees across world. All samples, tests and results mentioned in lab test reports as evidence occurred under the NDA government, he said. Selecting the ghee supplier is a routine process every six months by TTD.

‘Deeply disturbed’ by findingsabout animal fat in Tirupatiprasadam: Pawan Kalyan

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Friday said he was “deeply disturbed” by the findings of animal fat in Tirupati temple ‘prasadam’ (consecrated food), and suggested setting up a ‘Sanatana’ national board to look into the issues pertaining to temples. His comments come two days after TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the previous YSRCP government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddus. “We are all deeply disturbed with the findings of animal fat (fish oil, pork fat and beef fat) mixed in Tirupati Balaji Prasad. Many questions to be answered by the TTD board constituted by YCP Govt (YSRCP government) then,” said Kalyan in a post on X.

Further, the Janasena party chief said the time has arrived to constitute a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ at the national level to look into all the issues related to temples in the country. “A debate has to happen at a national level involving all policymakers, religious heads, judiciary, citizens, media and others in their respective domains,” he said. Reaffirming that the government in the southern state is committed to taking stringent action against those responsible for adulterated laddus, the actor-politician said the matter throws light on issues relating to the alleged adulteration.