New Delhi: Union food minister Pralhad Joshi and health minister JP Nadda have sought a detailed report on the allegations of animal fat being used for the preparation of Tirupati laddus, on Friday, September 20. They called for an investigation based on the allegations made by Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, a claim that has sparked concern among devotees.
“Whatever the Andhra chief minister has said is a matter of serious concern. A detailed enquiry is required and the culprit should be punished,” Joshi told reporters on the sidelines of a global food regulators summit here.
Union health minister JP Nadda stated that he spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu after getting information about animal fat in Tirupati laddus and took details from him. “I have asked him to share the available report so that I can examine it. I will also speak to the state regulators and investigate this. Suitable action will be taken as per the food safety standards. As of now I have asked for the report and we will examine it,” added Nadda.
During an NDA legislative party meeting on Wednesday, Naidu claimed that the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddus.
TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference on Thursday in Amaravati claimed that the adulteration has been confirmed by a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, on the ghee samples provided by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.
He displayed the purported lab report which apparently confirmed the presence of “beef tallow”, “lard” and “fish oil” in the given ghee sample.
The sample receipt date was July 9, 2024 and the lab report was dated July 16.
However, there was no official confirmation on the lab report from either the Andhra Pradesh government or the TTD.
YSRCP leaders have denied the allegations.
(With inputs from PTI)
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