Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu found fault with former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for cancelling his visit to Tirumala. Speaking to media at Velagapudi secretariat Naidu wondered who asked Jagan not to visit Tirumala.
He said that Jagan Mohan Reddy was not interested in giving declaration before worshiping Lord Venkateswara. He said that giving declaration had been the tradition for several decades. People of other faiths should give declaration at the temple before worshiping the Lord, he said.
He said that Jagan Mohan Reddy himself had admitted that he would read Bible every day. This would mean that he doesn’t believe Lord Venkateswara, he said. He further added that those who does not believe Lord Venkateswara should give a declaration at the temple before worshiping the Lord.
The chief minister said that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) had used the AR Foods ghee in the laddu preparation. They have sent the samples of the ghee for tests only on July 12, he said and added that the officials have found animal fat contents in the ghee. These tankers were sent back, while the previous tankers ghee was used in the laddu preparation, he said.
The chief minister also alleged that the YSR Congress government had changed the rules in the tenders for the ghee supply. They have changed the rules to suit to their looting atop the hill, he said. He alleged that the YSR Congress government had used the animal fat in the ghee to prepare laddus for the last five years.
Chandrababu Naidu said that he was pained at the contamination of the Tirumala laddu. The YSR Congress government had contaminated the laddu. As a devotee of Lord Venkateswara, he was pained on learning about the contamination of laddu, he said.
He further said that the present government would establish a lab at Tirumala with global standards and protect the laddu. He further said that the laboratory would conduct all tests for all food items being supplied to the temple. He further said that this government would not allow anyone to desecrate the holy temple and breach its practices.
Chandrababu Naidu further said that this government would honour and protect the interests of the devotees visiting the temple.
