'He can use even god for political gains ... ': Jagan Mohan Reddy alleges Chandrababu Naidu using Tirupati laddu row to divert attention from failed poll promises

NEW DELHI: YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is under fire over allegations of adulterated Tirupati laddus, on Friday called the Telugu Desam Party charges "atrocious" and accused the ruling party of using faith for politics. "Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu is such a person who can even use god for political gains," Jagan said in his first reaction to the laddu controversy and questioned "Is it fair to play with sentiments of crores of devotees across the world?"
Chandrababu Naidu had alleged that the previous YSR Congress-led government used animal fat in laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.The chief minister also charged that YSR government had served substandard food to the Tirumala devotees to not only undermine its holiness but also hurt the devotees' sentiments.
Jagan, who was the chief minister from 2019 to 2024, rubbished these charges and claimed that the tender process to procure laddus was transparent and his government had rejected the products supplied to the temple 18 times. "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. Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) collects samples from the ghee, and only products that pass certification are used. TDP is politicizing religious matters. We have rejected the products in our regime 18 times," the former Andhra CM said.
Jagan alleged that ghee adulteration allegations were to divert attention from Chandrababu Naidu's 100 days rule in Andhra Pradesh. "This is a diversion politics. On one hand, people are expressing their anger at Chandrababu Naidu's hundred days rule. They are demanding what happened to their "Super six" (poll promises). In order to divert people's attention, this concocted story," he said.
Referring to the lab reports in circulation, Jagan said, "All samples, tests and results mentioned in lab test reports as evidence occurred under NDA government." "Selecting ghee supplier is routine process that happens every six months by the TTD. It is going on for decades together and there is nothing new in this," the YSRCP chief said.
Jagan said that he will write a letter to the Prime Minister and also to the Chief Justice of India explaining to them as to how Chandrababu Naidu has twisted facts and why action should be taken against Andhra CM for it.
Meanwhile, Jagan's sister and Andhra Pradesh Congress president YS Sharmila on Friday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into Chandrababu Naidu's allegation that the previous YSRCP government had used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddu, a consecrated sweet. She said the issue is related to the sentiments and faith of crores of people across the country.
Related story: 'When temples are being attacked ... ': Andhra deputy CM Pawan Kalyan on Tirupati laddu row
'Will take action'
Chandrababu Naidu reiterated his charge against the Jagan government on Friday and accused it of damaging the sacredness of TTD by procuring cheap, 'adulterated' ghee to prepare the famous sweet. The Andhra CM also indicated he would take action on the matter, asking should he spare people when "unpardonable mistakes" are committed.
Addressing a public meeting in Prakasam district, Naidu alleged the previous regime bought inferior quality ghee at cheaper prices affecting the quality of Laddu and damaged the sacredness of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
'Ghee suppliers took advantage of lack of in-house testing facility'
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Friday said ghee suppliers to the temple body took advantage of the lack of in-house adulteration testing facility and also not making use of outside facilities. Executive officer of TTD Shamala Rao said that there had been apprehensions about the quality of the Prasadam and under CM Naidu's instructions a lab test of the same was ordered.
"When I took over as executive officer TTD, the CM expressed concern on the ghee procured and the quality of the laddu which is considered to be very sacred and offered as 'Prasadam' to Lord Venkateswara Swamy. We started working on that and found that we don't have any internal lab to test adulteration in the ghee. There is no system to check the quality of ghee in outside labs also. The rates quoted by tenderers are unviable and they are so low that anyone can say that pure cow ghee cannot cost so less. We then warned all suppliers that they will be blacklisted if the ghee supplied doesn't pass the lab test. We eventually sent all samples for best lab, in a government-controlled, and the reports that have come are shocking," she said.
(With inputs from agencies)