In his plea, Swamy stressed the importance of internal checks to ensure the quality of ingredients supplied for laddu preparation, stating that there should be supervision and verification of suppliers.
Published Sep 23, 2024 | 7:44 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 23, 2024 | 10:38 PM
Tirupati Laddu controversy : BJP leader Dr. Subramanian Swamy moves Supreme Court
Senior BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy approached the Supreme Court regarding the controversy involving the allegations that adultered ghee was used to make the Laddu prasadam served at the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Dr Swamy said: “Today I filed a PIL seeking Supreme Court direction to investigate unsubstantiated allegation by CM C.B. Naidu that the Tirupati Tirumala Temple Prasadam were adulterated with meat of animals and other rotten items creating chaos almost bhaktas”
Today I filed a PIL seeking Supreme Court direction to investigate unsubstantiated allegation by CM C.B. Naidu that the Tirupati Tirumala Temple Prasadam were adulterated with meat of animals and other rotten items creating chaos almost bhaktas
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) September 23, 2024
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had alleged that animal fat was used in the preparation of the Tirupati Laddu during the tenure of the previous government.
Following the allegations, several people used a report from a forensic lab indicating that animal fat, specifically beef tallow, was found in the ghee supplied to the temple.
This revelation sparked outrage and concern among devotees and political figures alike. In response to these troubling findings, Swamy called for the establishment of a court-monitored committee to investigate the allegations of substandard ingredients being utilised in the preparation of the sacred prasadam.
In his plea, Swamy emphasised the need for internal checks and balances to oversee and verify the quality of ingredients supplied to the temple for laddu preparation.
“There ought to have been checks and balances internally to supervise and verify the quality, or the lack of it, of the suppliers supplying various ingredients to the temple,” he stated.
Swamy’s petition also called for the Andhra Pradesh government to submit a detailed report on the source and sampling of the ghee used in making the laddus.
He expressed dismay over the leak of the forensic test results to the media, arguing that such sensitive information should have first been handled by the temple trust’s officers.
“The opportunity was seized upon by certain individuals to make a political statement,” his plea asserted, indicating that the situation may have been exploited for political gain.
YV Subba Reddy, the former chairperson of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam and a member of the Rajya Sabha from the YSRCP, also filed a plea. Reddy advocated for an independent committee to investigate the matter, suggesting that it should be led by a retired Supreme Court judge.
In light of the controversy, the priests of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) performed a cleansing ritual, or homam, following the allegations of animal fat being present in the laddus.
#AndhraPradesh | A ‘purification’ ritual, Shanti Homam was performed as per the tenets of Vaikhanasa Agama in the Yagashala of #Tirumala temple today in wake of Laddu Prasadam row pic.twitter.com/6OcV4umR3W
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) September 23, 2024
Chief Priest Krishna Seshachala Swamy explained, “For the past four to five days, there have been many news reports spreading worldwide that the ghee used to prepare Balaji’s laddus contained animal fat. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and TTD management approached us for a solution. We suggested that TTD perform a homam called ‘Shanti Homam’ for purification, and they accepted.”
The cleansing ritual, known as ‘Santhi Homam Panchagavya Prokshana,’ was conducted according to the tenets of Vaikhanasa Agama. The event involved eight temple priests and three Agama Shastra advisors and took place early in the morning. It lasted from 6.00 am to 10.00 am on Monday, 23 September.
The chief priest urged devotees to continue visiting the temple and seeking blessings from Lord Venkateswara. “Now, everything is purified, and I request all devotees to please come to Tirupati Balaji, seek the blessings of Balaji, buy your laddus, and share them with your family and friends,” he said.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
