VHP demands judicial inquiry into Tirupati laddu 'adulteration', calls it 'grave crime' against devotees

New Delhi [India], September 22 : Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal on Sunday responded to reports of substandard ingredients, including animal fat, being used in the preparation of Tirupati Laddu Prasadam. He called it a "grave crime" and an "unforgivable conspiracy" against devotees and their religious sentiments.
Bansal also demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the matter, saying that stringent action should be taken against those responsible.
"This is a grave crime and an unforgivable conspiracy committed in our religious places. There cannot be a bigger crime than this in the world. Devotees with religious sentiments have not only been let down, but their faith has also been tarnished after the prasadam offered to them was found adulterated with beef," Bansal said.
He further added, "We worship the mother cow, and they used beef in prasadam, even the fat of pigs and fish oil was used. A high-level judicial inquiry must be conducted, and the harshest punishment should be given to those involved so that no one dares to commit such a crime again."
"VHP demands that Hindu pilgrimages, their sanctity and purity must be protected, especially in those 4 lakh temples that are under government control. This incident is unprecedented," he said.

Earlier in the day, Mahamandaleshwar 1008 Mahant Amar Das Ji Maharaj of Ram Mandir, Dausa, Rajasthan, demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged use of 'animal fat' in Tirupati Laddu Prasadam distributed at the Tirumala Temple. He said the incident deeply "hurts" the faith of Hindus.
"The leaders who betray God--how will they spare the people of our country? This is a major betrayal of Hindus, and it affects all our Hindu brothers across the world. Their souls have been wounded by such leaders who claim to believe in our Tirupati Balaji," Amar Das Ji Maharaj said.
He urged the government to initiate a CBI inquiry into all committee members involved and the ruling government at the time of the incident.
"The harshest and most severe punishment should be given to these people, and such leaders should never be forgiven. This is not just a betrayal of us, or our future, but of Sanatan Dharma itself," he added.
Earlier, spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, called for the formation of a committee of spiritual leaders to oversee temple matters. In a video message, he urged action against those involved in food adulteration.
"We have read in history books how the sepoy mutiny of 1857 occurred. Now, we see how deeply Hindus are hurt by this laddoo incident. This cannot be pardoned or forgiven. It is malicious and driven by the greed of those involved. They must be severely punished. All their assets should be seized, and they should be jailed, whoever is remotely involved in this process," Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said.
"We must check not just the laddoo, but every food product. What about the ghee sold in the market? Is anyone checking what's being put in it? All those who adulterate food and falsely label it as vegetarian, while adding any non-vegetarian substance, should be very strictly punished," he added.
On September 19, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu sparked a controversy by claiming that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, a sweet offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government.
Reacting to this, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy stated that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is "politicising religious matters."