Tirupati Laddu Row: The issue of using fish oil has gained momentum. Meanwhile, the investigation report of the ghee used in the Prasad has also come out, which has confirmed that fish oil and animal fat were being mixed in the Prasad.
All the political parties have expressed their anger on this issue since last Wednesday. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu claimed that adulteration in Prasad was being done in the previous government, while Jagan Mohan Reddy’s party YSR Congress has called the allegations of mixing animal fat in Prasad as ‘revenge’.
In this report, we know in detail about the whole controversy of fat in the laddu given as prasad in Tirupati temple…
Table of Contents
1. How famous is Tirupati temple in India and why do people come here
Tirupati temple, also known as Tirupati Balaji or Venkateshwara temple, is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and is one of the richest and most famous Hindu pilgrimage sites in the world. This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, who is considered an incarnation of Vishnu. The consecration of this temple was done by Ramanujacharya in the 11th century.
There is a belief about Tirupati Balaji temple that Lord Venkateshwara had taken a loan from Kubera, the god of wealth, while marrying Padmavati and the Lord still has that debt. This is the reason why devotees who visit the temple donate to help him pay the interest on this loan. Tirumala temple receives about one ton of gold as donation every year.
The prasad of this temple is also very famous. In fact, the famous laddu is given as prasad to the devotees who come to visit the temple. More than 3 lakh laddus are made in this temple every day. The recipe of this laddu is about 300 years old.
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the prasad was being adulterated during the previous government, while Reddy’s party YSR Congress called the allegation an ‘act of revenge’.
2. Why the sudden issue of checking the laddus?
Actually, a few days ago, devotees visiting the temple had complained about the change in the taste of the prasad laddus. When this matter reached TTD CEO J. Shyamala Rao, he formed a special committee to check the quality of laddu prasadam.
This committee comprised former Chief Scientist of Dairy Research Centre, Vijayawada, Dr. B. Surendranath, dairy expert Bhaskar Reddy, Professor B. Mahadevan of IIM-Bangalore and Dr. G. Swarnalatha of Telangana Veterinary University. Based on the investigation, the committee gave many suggestions so that the taste of laddu can be restored to its previous form.
The issue of quality of ghee was raised in these suggestions and on July 9, the sample of ghee was sent to the lab of National Dairy Development Board’s Livestock and Food Analysis and Study Center (CALF) located in Anand, Gujarat for quality testing. The lab report came on July 16. In which adulteration was found in the ghee of a firm. According to the report of CALF, prasadam laddus were being made in ghee prepared from animal fat and fish oil.
3. Is this report 100 percent correct?
CALF has also issued a warning along with this report. It says, “The report we have given may be wrong in other conditions.” This warning is usually issued by every testing lab, so that if there is any controversy in the future, it can be avoided by citing such warnings. In such a situation, it would not be wrong to say that the reports that have come regarding the ghee used for Prasad may change if the conditions change.
4. Who is responsible for making laddus?
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is responsible for the maintenance of this temple. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam is also responsible for the temple’s prasadam. This institution was established in the year 1932. The state government of Andhra Pradesh appoints the chairman of this committee every two years. This committee buys all the ingredients to make the laddus for temple prasadam. Then it is sold by volunteers to the devotees visiting Tirupati temple at pre-determined prices.
At present, this organization has a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), two Joint Executive Officers and officers for other departments. Some temple priests are also included in this board. It includes the main temple and 12 other temples and 14 thousand employees working in them.
5. Who was supplying ghee for the temple?
Karnataka Cooperative Milk Federation (KMF) was supplying desi ghee to the temple committee at concessional rates for the last 50 years. But, in the year 2023, the company refused to supply ghee with concession, after which the then Jagan Mohan Reddy government gave the responsibility of supplying ghee to 5 companies. After irregularities were found in the samples in July this year, the Naidu government became alert and on August 29 again handed over the supply work to KMF.
Actually KMF has been supplying Nandini brand ghee to this temple for the last 15 years. When Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government came to power in the state, he stopped taking this ghee citing high prices. At that time Karnataka Milk Federation had argued that the price of milk is increasing due to which we will not be able to spend Rs 478 per kg on ghee alone.
Earlier, KMF company used to charge Rs 392 per kg for this ghee, but due to increase in cost, the price of ghee increased to Rs 478 per kg. After the increase in the price of ghee, the then Reddy government started supply from A.R. Dairy Foods of Tamil Nadu. This company was supplying ghee to the temple at the rate of Rs 320 per kg.
6. How many types of laddus are there in Tirupati and has animal fat been found in all of them?
Currently, three types of laddus are offered in Tirupati. Proktam laddu, Asthanam laddu and Kalyanotsavam laddu. Proktam laddu is small in size. It is given to the devotees for free during darshan. Asthanam laddu is made on the occasion of a special festival or celebration. It weighs at least 175 grams and costs Rs 50. Kalyanotsavam laddu is in the highest demand. In fact, it is given to the devotees who participate in Arjita Seva and Kalyanotsavam. Its weight is 750 grams and its price is Rs 200, because the same ghee is being used to make all these three laddus. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that animal fat has been found in all these three types of laddus.
7. Can this CALF report be challenged?
The animal fat in ghee controversy started with the report of the National Dairy Development Board’s Livestock and Food Analysis and Study Center (CALF). In such a situation, if the company supplying ghee wants, it can challenge this report.
8. Can NSA be imposed against Jagan Mohan in this case?
In the laddu controversy, lawyer Vineet Jindal has sent a complaint letter to the Home Ministry and the DGP of Andhra Pradesh and demanded action against former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) officials and the contractor who supplied adulterated non-vegetarian ghee for prasad in Tirupati temple.
According to the lawyer, a plea has been made to lodge an FIR against all of them under sections 152, 192, 196, 298 and 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and to impose National Security Act (NSA) against Jaganmohan Reddy and others.
9. What have different parties said in this matter?
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has spoken to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu after the controversy over this matter increased. He said in a statement, ‘I have asked him to send me a report of whatever information is available. I will also talk to the state regulators. I will also talk to the source from which the report has come. Appropriate action will be taken keeping in mind all aspects.’
Not only this, Andhra Pradesh Congress President Sharmila Reddy has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a CBI inquiry on this entire matter. Former Chief Minister of the state Jagan Mohan Reddy said, ‘Chandrababu Naidu is using God only for politics.’ He said that he is such a person who uses God for his political benefit. Reddy alleges that the matter of ghee is being brought up so that the attention of the public can be diverted from the work of the 100-day government.
10. What did Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Trust Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy say on this allegation?
On this entire matter, YSR Congress leader and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Trust Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy said, ‘The current Naidu government has hurt the sentiments of not only us but crores of Hindus by questioning the sanctity of Tirumala temple.’ He said that no one can make such allegations. In the Tirumala Prasad case, I and my family are ready to swear in the name of God. Will Chandrababu Naidu say this by swearing with his family?
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