Tirupati Prasadam row: Ex-Andhra CM Jagan Reddy says lab report false, blames Naidu for playing faith politics

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has responded to the allegations that duringhis tenure, animal fat, including beef tallow was used to makeTirupati laddoos - given to devotees as an offering.

Reddy called the lab report false and accused Telugu Desam Party(TDP) leader and incumbent CM Chandrababu Naidu of using "faith for politics". The YSR Congress Party leader added that the contentious products were found in the offering when Naiduwas already the CM of the state.

"We got to know that the quality of ghee was bad and immediately informed the Chief Minister Naidu," Reddy said.

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"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," he further explained.

Reddy said he was writing a letter to the PM and Chief Justice of Indiato plead his case.

"Ultimately, at the end of the day, I myself am writing a letter to the Prime Minister. I am also writing a letter to the Chief Justice of India. I am explaining to them as to how Chandrababu Naidu twisted the facts and why action should be taken against him for having done so."

What is the 'laddoo' controversy?

The controversy erupted after Naidu on Wednesday (Sep 18) alleged that the Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddus, which included animal fat and fish oil.

On Thursday (Sep 19), a lab report fromGujarat’s NDDB CALF lab, which confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples went viral on social media.

The report, dated July 16, 2024, was presented by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference.

"The lab reports of samples that were sent for testing to the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat certify that beef tallow and animal fat, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee that was supplied to Tirumala and also the S value is only 19.7," Reddy said in a press conference.

The uproar has led toIndian Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi calling for a detailed probe into the allegations.

"Whatever the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said is a very serious matter, it should be investigated in detail and whoever is guilty should be punished," saidJoshi.

(With inputs from agencies)