Tirupati Laddu row: A R Dairy issued notice; purification ritual conducted, devotees reassured of restored sanctity

PTC News Desk: A four-hour purification ritual was performed at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) shrine to appease Lord Venkateswara Swamy, following serious allegations that animal fats had been used in the preparation of the sacred Tirupati laddus, a prasadam offered to devotees.

Assurance from TTD Authorities

TTD Executive Officer J. Shyamala Rao reassured devotees that their concerns about the purity of the temple laddus had been addressed. He stated that the sanctity of the prasadam had been fully restored after the purification ceremony, emphasizing that the temple authorities are committed to maintaining the highest standards of religious and ritual purity.

Show-Cause Notice to Dairy Supplier

In the midst of the controversy, India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has issued a show-cause notice to A R Dairy Food Private Ltd, a Tamil Nadu-based firm that supplies ghee to the TTD. The notice was prompted by allegations that the dairy had provided substandard ghee, leading to concerns that animal fats might have been used in the preparation of the laddus.

The issue has sparked widespread calls for a thorough investigation. As the allegations gained traction, the FSSAI took swift action, questioning A R Dairy's compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011. According to sources, the FSSAI is considering suspending the firm’s central license if violations are confirmed.

The show-cause notice followed reports from the Director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh, which revealed that A R Dairy Food Private Ltd had been supplying ghee to the TTD for the past four years.

Political and Religious Reactions

The controversy has attracted attention at both political and religious levels. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former minister Subramanian Swamy called for a court-monitored investigation into the matter, urging for transparency and accountability in the inquiry.

Meanwhile, former TTD chairman and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Member of Parliament Y.V. Subba Reddy, who has denied the adulteration claims, has requested an independent investigation led by a retired Supreme Court judge to settle the issue once and for all.

In addition, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a prominent Hindu organization, has urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the situation and intervene in the investigation to ensure that the temple's sacred prasadam remains free from adulteration.

Government Action

In response to the growing public outrage, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. Naidu had earlier claimed that the use of substandard ingredients and animal fats in the preparation of the laddus had occurred during the tenure of the previous YSRCP government, further intensifying the political implications of the case.

YSR Congress Party chief and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has strongly denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless and politically motivated.

The Path Forward

As the investigation proceeds, devotees of Lord Venkateswara and religious leaders alike await a resolution to the controversy. The TTD's commitment to maintaining the sanctity of the temple's offerings is under intense scrutiny, and both the state and central authorities are being called upon to ensure that the issue is handled transparently and justly.

With FSSAI's inquiry into A R Dairy and ongoing political and legal pressure, the situation remains a point of national attention, as religious sentiment and food safety concerns intersect in one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites.

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