Tirupati Laddu Row Turns Bitter: Samples Found To Be 'Pathetic, Highly Adulterated With Pig Fat'

Tirupati: Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer Shyamala Rao, on Friday, stated that five lab tests confirmed the use of lard (pig fat) and poor-quality ghee in laddoos distributed to the devotees of Lord Venkateswara shrine.

Rao, in a press briefing, asserted, "Ghee suppliers took advantage of the lack of testing facilities within the temple administration. Officials found the samples to be pathetic.

Naidu Using God For Political Gains, Alleges Reddy

YSRCP Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy hit out at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the ghee adulteration row in Tirumala, saying the latter was trying to divert public attention from his 100 days of rule.

Addressing a press conference, he said Naidu is such a person who will use god also for political gains.

"This is a diversion politics. On one hand, people are expressing their anger at Chandrababu Naidu 's hundred-day rule. They are demanding what happened to their "Super six" (poll promises). To divert people's attention, this concocted story," he said.

The ghee adulteration allegations are atrocious, he said and asked if is it fair to play with the sentiments of crores of devotees across the world.

All samples, tests and results mentioned in lab test reports as evidence occurred under the NDA government, he said.

Selecting the ghee supplier is a routine process every six months by TTD. It has been going on for decades together, nothing new, the YSRCP chief said.

During an NDA legislative party meeting on September 18, TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the previous YSRCP government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddus.

(with PTI inputs)