New Delhi: Amul clarified on Friday that it has never provided ghee to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) in the midst of a controversy surrounding the usage of animal fat in prasad served at the Tirumala temple in Andhra’s Tirupati region.
Amul.coop released a statement on X, clarifying that Amul Ghee was never provided to the TTD.
Allegations made by Chandrababu Naidu about the usage of “beef and pig” fat in making of prasad (laddu) at the Tirupati Temple sparks nationwide controversy
“This refers to a few social media reports that claimed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) was receiving supplies of Amul Ghee. We would want to clarify that we have never provided TTD with Amul Ghee,” the statement said.
“We also wish to clarify Amul Ghee is made from milk at our state-of-the-art production facilities, which are ISO certified. Amul Ghee is made from high-quality pure milk fat. The milk received at our dairies passes through stringent quality checks, including adulteration detection as specified by FSSAI,” it added.
Tirupati Laddu controversy
This occurred two days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu asserted that during the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government, inferior ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, a sweet offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.
The previous chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, responded to the Tirupati laddu controversy by saying that the TDP is “politicizing religious matters.”
“The qualification requirements remain the same as they have for decades, and the tender process takes place every six months. A NABL certificate and a product quality certificate are required from suppliers. Samples of ghee are gathered by the TTD, and only certified goods are utilized. The TDP was politicizing religious issues,” Reddy claimed.
Central government’s comment on the row
In a conversation with Chief Minister Naidu on Friday, Union Health Minister JP Nadda requested an in-depth report on the problem and stated that the Center would look into it and take appropriate action.
When asked about adulteration in Tirupati prasadam, Nadda responded, “I have spoken to Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu after receiving information about this and took details from him. I’ll look into this and talk to the state regulators as well. We’ll take the appropriate steps in accordance with food safety regulations. I have already requested the report, and we will review it.”
Jagan Mohan Reddy dismiss the allegations posed against him
On Friday, YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy declared that he would submit a letter to the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, has misrepresented the truth.
“In the end, I myself am writing a letter to the Prime Minister myself. In addition, I’m sending a letter to India’s Chief Justice. I am explaining to them how Chandrababu Naidu twisted the facts and why action should be taken against him for having done so,” the head of the YSRCP told reporters.
Allegations of using “beef fat” in preparing prasad
The reports, according to TDP MP Sribharat Mathukumilli, explicitly stated that a specific fat, based on its S value, is not within the allowed range, it is not milk fat, and is not ghee.
“The lab findings for the ghee used to make Tirupati Laddus were sent to us. A specific fat, based on its S value, is not within the allowed range, it is not milk fat, and is not ghee. It’s a combination of vegetable oils and—surprisingly—pig and beef fat. This has alarmed all Hindus in the nation, including devotees. It is regrettable that this type of government was impacting not just the state but also Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, a sacred temple. The hurt it has caused cannot be resolved so easily. People across the country are grieving,” the TDP leader said.
READ: BJP leaders from Punjab expressed disappointment towards Kangana
