"SIT has been formed" Andhra Pradesh Home Minister on Tirupati Prasadam controversy
Sep 25, 2024
Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 25 : Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi on Wednesday stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already been formed to investigate the alleged use of 'animal fat' in the preparation of the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam.
Anitha Vangalapudi accused the YSRCP of "trying to cover up" the 'mistakes', as CM Chandrababu Naidu had alleged, in the use of 'animal fat' in the prasadam during the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government.
"An SIT has already been formed with IG and DIG-level officers. The YSRCP is accusing us and attacking us in return. They have made mistakes in the preparation of the Laddu prasadam and are now attempting to cover them up," Vangalapudi said.
"Hindu sentiments have been hurt, and they are toying with those sentiments. To divert attention from politics, they set fire to a chariot, further hurting the feelings of Hindus. Chandrababu Naidu is taking this issue very seriously. The CM has made it clear that those who break the law will face severe punishment," she added.
However, the YSRCP, on the other hand, has urged devotees across the state to participate in temple poojas on Saturday, September 28, aimed at restoring the sanctity of Tirumala, which the party claims was tarnished by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
YSRCP Chief and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took to the social media platform X, urging people to stand against the false claims made by Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu had allegedly spread misinformation, claiming that Tirumala's sacred laddu prasadam was adulterated with animal fat, misleading devotees and tarnishing the revered image of Lord Venkateswara.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote, "The sanctity of Tirumala, the significance of Swami's prasadam, the glory of Lord Venkateswara, the reputation of TTD, and the sacredness of the laddu prasadam of Lord Venkateswara were all defiled by Chandrababu Naidu, who, with political malice, deliberately spread lies that the prasadam was adulterated with animal fat and that devotees had consumed such tainted prasadam. To cleanse this sin committed by Chandrababu Naidu, the YSRCP is calling for participation in poojas across temples statewide on Saturday, September 28."
The controversy over the Tirupati Prasadam began after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the prasadam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government.
