"...Hurting sentiments of crores of people": Chilkur Balaji temple head priest on Tirupati prasad row

Speaking to ANI, the temple's head priest Rangarajan said, "For the last two days I have been seeing media reports about the controversy on Tirupati Laddoo. It's not a controversy, it's directly hurting sentiments of crores of people like us. Mostly who believe in the Sanatan Dharma worship of the deity."

Rangarajan also criticised the tendering process to make the prasad laddoos and urged action against those responsible for the alleged adulteration.

"What has happened is we have been already saying the process of tendering: when you purchase ingredients for laddoo, you go for the lowest bidder; the moment you go for the lowest bidder, you are asking for trouble. In fact, the best cow ghee today cannot be less than 1000 per kg. How can a person quote Rs 320? If someone quotes 320, every packet is adulterated. It's a big hurting issue, we have to find the culprit and book them," he said.

He appreciated Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's call for constituting a national level Sanatana Dharma Rakhasana Board for temples.

"I appreciate the statement of Andhra DCM Pawan Kalyan, he said there should be a national-level Dharmic parirakshana parishad. We want a central Dharmic parishad that will be run by religious heads, Matadipati, Pitadipati and retired judges, if they have a central Dharmic parishad, the temples can run under it, that's the best solution," Rangarajan said.

Yesterday, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip in which Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged use of animal fat in consecrated sweets--'Tirupati Prasadam' instead of 'Ghee' at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati during the previous YSR Congress led by Jagan Mohan Reddy government.

Citing a copy of a "lab report," TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy alleged earlier that "beef tallow and animal fat--lard and fish oil--were used in the preparation of ghee, which was supplied to Tirumala."

"The lab reports of samples that were sent for testing to the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat certify that beef tallow and animal fat, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee that was supplied to Tirumala and also the S value is only 19.7. The Hindu religion is offended by this. The 'prasadam' which is offered to the Lord thrice a day has been mixed with this ghee," Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy alleged.

However, YSRCP leader and former TTD Chairman YV Subbareddy denied the charge, claiming that only organic materials had been used to prepare the Prasadam.

"All the ingredients used for Swami's offerings from the last three years are all organic ingredients, including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programmes while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programmes to mislead the people," he said.

Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Tirumala hills at Tirupati in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)