Amid the Tirupati laddu controversy, Karnataka government has mandated the use of KMF ghee in laddus prepared across temples in the state.
Published Sep 20, 2024 | 10:21 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 20, 2024 | 10:21 PM
Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy at a temple
Amid the roaring controversy over laddu at Tirumala temple, the Karnataka government, on Friday, 20 September, directed all temples, mainly those under the Muzrai department, to mandatorily use ghee produced by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).
This comes in the backdrop of Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu alleging that animal fat was used while preparing Tirupati laddu during the YSRCP regime in the state. Though the lab report points to adulteration and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer categorically identified the adulterant as Vanaspati, the controversy hasn’t died down.
In the wake of this, Karnataka Minister for Muzrai and Transport, Ramalinga Reddy issued a directive to all temples mandating the use of KMF-produced Nandini ghee while preparing laddus.
There are around 34,563 temples under the Muzrai Department in Karnataka. Based on the temples’ income, the state government has categorised them into Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C.
Of the 34,563 temples, 201 are classified as Grade A, where the temple’s income exceeds ₹25 lakh, 139 are categorised as Grade B, where the income does not exceed ₹25 lakh, and 34,223 are classified as Grade C, where the gross annual income does not exceed ₹5 lakh.
On conditions of anonymity, a senior official from the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department, told South First: “The state government has issued an order mandating that all temples under the Muzrai department use KMF Nandini ghee for the preparation of laddus. We have not received any complaints regarding the quality of the laddus being served to devotees in any of the temples, nor have we found any substandard prasad being distributed in the state.”
“This directive was issued in response to the Tirupati temple laddu controversy, to ensure that temples use high-quality ghee in the preparation of laddus. The government will decide the pricing of the ghee,” added the official.
#Karnataka: Minister for Muzrai and Transport, @RLR_BTM, directs all temples under Muzrai to use KMF’s ghee for laddu preparations.
Following the #TirupatiLaddu controversy, Minister Reddy has issued a circular directing all temples to mandatorily use KMF’s Ghee for preparing… pic.twitter.com/JNuoabfAsO
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) September 20, 2024
Meanwhile, speaking to South First, minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “There was a lot of confusion among people regarding the use of raw materials, especially ghee, in Karnataka temples for laddu preparation, particularly after the Tirupati laddu controversy. We have not received any complaints on any temples.”
He added, “To the best of my knowledge, over 99 percent of the temples are already using high-quality ghee. Now, I have issued an order directing all temples, especially those under Muzrai, to mandatorily use KMF Nandini ghee,” and noted that Karnataka temples have consistently provided quality laddus to devotees.
(Edited by Neena)
