"During last 5 years, many 'not' sacred things were done in Tirumala": Chandrababu Naidu slams Jagan Reddy
Sep 22, 2024
NTR (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 22 : Amid the controversy over Tirupati Prasadam, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday criticised former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of allowing non-sacred activities in Tirumala during his five-year tenure.
Addressing the media at his residence in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu said, "During the last 5 years, many not sacred things were done in Tirumala. Many times, even devotees protested against it. The laddu prasad and the food given at Tirumala are made with pure materials and have a very special taste. When I was CM, I had called Ramdev Baba and we planted many ayurvedic plants all around the temple."
Naidu also accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of appointing people close to him as Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board members and using TTD for political gains.
"The trust board appointment was like gambling. The tickets to the temple were sold as per their wish. Once we went to Tirupati and had to protest and get arrested. They appointed their close people as the board members and even gave prominence to non-Hindus. They used TTD for their political gains," CM Naidu said.
He accused Jagan Mohan Reddy as the main reason behind adulterated ghee in Tirupati Prasadam, saying, "They (YSRCP) removed all the conditions and opened floodgates such that all amateur suppliers can supply. As a result of this, adulterated ghee was supplied."
"When I came to power, immediately the Chief Secretary went on leave. The first thought I had was Thirumala and then I appointed Shyamala Rao as TTD EO. I briefed him that un-sacred things have happened there and you have to cleanse it all," he said.
On September 19, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stirred a political controversy after he claimed that the ghee used in the preparation of Tirupati laddoo prasadam, offered at Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple in Tirupati, contained animal fat during the previous YSRCP government.
Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the Tirumala hills of Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati district.
