Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan undertook an 11-day penance initiation after the Ladoo controversy came to light.
Regarding animal fat in prasadam (laddu) of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple (Tirupati temple) of Andhra Pradesh, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan said – adulteration in prasadam is like an iceberg (small part). There is much more underneath that needs to be examined.
In fact, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan took an 11-day penance initiation after the Ladoo controversy came to light. After completing his initiation on 3 October, he had darshan of Venkateswara Swami and later addressed a public meeting. Pawan said – Those who destroy Sanatan will themselves lick the dust. I follow Sanatan Dharma and can give up everything for it.
On the other hand, the issue of fat in prasad is scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court on Friday. Earlier this hearing was to be held on October 3. Which was later postponed. In the hearing held on September 30, a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said – 'When CM Chandrababu Naidu handed over the investigation of animal fat in prasad to the SIT, what was the need for him to go to the media. Keep God out of politics.
The Supreme Court will decide whether there will be an SIT probe in the case or not On October 1, the Andhra Pradesh Police stopped the SIT investigation into the case. State DGP Dwarka Tirumala Rao said that the case is currently being heard in the Supreme Court. After the hearing, it will be decided whether to investigate further by the SIT, as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan's 11-day penance was completed. Pawan reached Tirumala barefoot on the late night of 1 October.
In the last hearing, the Supreme Court said – What is the evidence that contaminated ghee is used in making ladoo? During the hearing, the court said, 'The lab report came in July. It is not clear. The Chief Minister has ordered an SIT probe and then gives a statement to the media in September. How can a person holding a constitutional position do this?
The court asked advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the Tirupati temple, what was the evidence that adulterated ghee was used in making the laddus. On that the lawyer said that we are investigating. After this, Justice Gavai asked, 'Then what was the need to go to the media immediately? You should respect religious sentiments.
After hearing for about an hour, the bench said that we want a suggestion from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta whether the matter should be probed by the SIT or an independent investigating agency.
On September 30, the SIT inspected a flour mill in Tirumala
Earlier on September 30, the SIT had conducted investigations at several places. SIT officials inspected a flour mill in Tirumala. Ghee is stored here. This ghee is used in laddu prasad.
SIT chief Sarvashrestha Tripathi and his team also inspected the ghee tankers in Tirumala and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) lab.
The tankers from which ghee is supplied to the Tirupati temple were also inspected.
The SIT team also questioned Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) lab officials.
Ladoo being made from Nandini ghee in Tirupati temple, ghee supplier tracking via GPS
Nandini ghee is now being used to make laddus in the Tirupati temple. Nandini is a popular brand of Karnataka Milk Federation. Only a month ago, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) awarded the contract to supply ghee to the Karnataka Milk Federation amid controversy.
MK Jagdish, Managing Director of Karnataka Milk Federation said, We have installed GPS system and geo location device in our vehicles. These vehicles deliver ghee to the temple. By installing a GPS system, we know where the vehicle is parked, so that confusion can be avoided. Karnataka Milk Federation has got a contract to supply 350 tonnes of ghee.
How did this controversy come to light?
The Karnataka Cooperative Milk Federation (KMF) had been supplying ghee to the Trust at subsidized rates for the past 50 years. Tirupati temple consumes 1400 tonnes of ghee every six months. In July 2023, the company refused to supply at lower rates, after which the Jagan government (YSRCP) awarded the supply work to 5 companies. One of these is AR Dairy Foods from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. In July this year, its ghee was found to be adulterated.
TDP Govt came, sample test done in July, fate confirmed
The TDP government appointed senior IAS officer J Shyamala Rao as the new executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) in June 2024. He ordered to check the quality of prasadam. A committee was formed for this.
The committee made several suggestions to improve the taste and quality of prasad and samples of ghee were sent to National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat for testing. Fate was mentioned in a report that came out in July.
After this TTD returned the stock of ghee sent by AR Dairy Foods of Dindigul, Tamil Nadu and blacklisted the contractor. After this TTD started procuring ghee from Karnataka Milk Federation.
Ghee was purchased from the old supplier at Rs 320 per kg. Now Tirupati Trust is buying ghee from Karnataka Co-operative Milk Federation (KMF) at Rs 475 per kg.
Ghee Purity Testing Lab NDDB CALF (Anand, Gujarat) has agreed to donate a machine to Tirupati to test the purity of ghee. Its price is 75 lakh rupees.
CM Naidu releases lab report, controversy rises
A report in July confirmed the presence of animal fat in the ladoo. However, TDP released the report after two months. CM Naidu had alleged on September 18 that animal fat and fish oil were mixed in the ghee used for laddus in the Tirupati temple during the former Jagan government. The TDP has also claimed to confirm its allegations by showing the lab report.
Naidu said, when ghee was available in the market at the price of Rs 500 per kg, the Jagan government bought ghee for Rs 320 per kg. In such a case the ghee must have been adulterated by the supplier. There will be an inquiry into the purchase of low-priced ghee by the Jagan government. The sanctity of the Tirupati temple has been tarnished by laddus made from ghee containing animal fat.
A 300-year-old kitchen, only Brahmins make 3.5 lakh laddus
Around 200 Brahmins in the Tirupati temple make laddus with pure country ghee in a 300-year-old kitchen.
Tirupati Temple is one of the most popular and richest religious places in the world. Every day around 70 thousand devotees visit Lord Venkateswara Swamy here. Its administration is controlled by the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD).
3.50 lakh laddus are made daily using pure country ghee in the 300 year old kitchen 'Potu' built in the temple premises. This is the main offering of the temple, which is made by about 200 Brahmins.
Ladoo consists of pure gram flour, sugar, cashew nuts and pure ghee. In January 2024, during the consecration of the Ram temple, the trust sent around one lakh ladus to Ayodhya.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
