In the midst of a controversy surrounding the use of alleged substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in the Tirupati laddus, dairy giant Amul has clarified that it has never supplied ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). The laddus, a sacred prasadam offered at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, have come under scrutiny following claims made by political leaders.Amul took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Friday to issue a statement: We wish to inform that we have never supplied Amul Ghee to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). The clarification followed after rumors spread online suggesting Amuls involvement in the supply of ghee for the laddus.Issued in Public Interest by Amul pic.twitter.com/j7uobwDtJI— Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) September 20, 2024Allegations of substandard ingredientsThe controversy erupted two days prior when Andhra Pradeshs former Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, alleged that low-quality ingredients, including animal fat, were being used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the tenure of the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government. This accusation raised concerns about the quality of ingredients used in the sacred offering, leading to widespread public outcry.YSRCP responds to accusationsResponding to Naidus claims, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and leader of the YSRCP, accused the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of politicizing religious matters. Reddy defended his governments transparency in the tender process for suppliers, which is conducted every six months. The qualification criteria for suppliers have remained unchanged for decades, requiring NABL certification and product quality approval, Reddy explained, adding that in his tenure, 18 batches of products had been rejected due to quality concerns.Centre steps inUnion Health Minister JP Nadda has also become involved in the issue, speaking with Chandrababu Naidu to seek further information. Nadda stated that he has requested a full report on the matter and will consult with state regulators to ensure the laddus meet food safety standards. Suitable action will be taken based on the report, and we will investigate the issue thoroughly, he told reporters during a press briefing on the Modi governments 100-day achievements.Jagan Mohan Reddys appealIn a more direct response to the ongoing controversy, Jagan Mohan Reddy announced that he would be writing letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. Reddy claimed that Naidu had twisted the facts regarding the ingredients used in the laddus and called for action against him.TDPs claimsAdding to the debate, TDP MP Sribharat Mathukumilli cited reports that indicated the presence of a certain type of fat that did not fall within the stipulated range for milk fat, suggesting it was not genuine ghee. The reports findings further fueled the controversy, with political parties now trading accusations over the issue.As investigations continue, the debate over the Tirupati laddus has drawn national attention, prompting authorities to take swift action to preserve the trust of millions of devotees who visit the sacred temple every year.
