metro india news  I amaravati

The NDA alliance government in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday launched a strong political and moral counteroffensive over the Tirumala laddu adulteration controversy, asserting that the sanctity of Lord Venkateswara’s prasadam had been compromised during the previous YSRCP regime and that strict legal action against those responsible was unavoidable.

Addressing a joint press conference in Amaravati after a high-level NDA meeting, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, BJP State President PVN Madhav, IT Minister Nara Lokesh and other ministers outlined the government’s stand and proposed course of action on the sensitive issue.

Naidu termed the alleged adulteration of Tirumala laddu prasadam an “unforgivable crime” that hurt the core of Hindu faith. He said it was not a routine administrative lapse but a betrayal of crores of devotees who visit Tirumala with devotion. Recalling his personal association with the shrine, Naidu said Lord Venkateswara was his family deity and credited the deity for protecting him during the 2003 claymore mine attack, which he described as a “rebirth”.

The Chief Minister alleged that warnings issued by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in 2022 regarding possible adulteration in ghee supplies were ignored and suppressed by the then YSRCP government. He said that after assuming power, the NDA government collected fresh laddu samples and sent them to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for testing, which reportedly confirmed the presence of adulterants.

Naidu further alleged that chemically manufactured substitutes and palm oil were used in place of pure cow ghee and that lakhs of devotees may have consumed adulterated laddus over the past five years. Calling it a grave wrongdoing, he announced the constitution of a one-man committee, based on communications from the CBI, to examine reports, identify lapses, fix responsibility and recommend further action. He said strict administrative and legal measures, including approaching courts if required, would follow the committee’s findings. He also warned the opposition against intimidation or diversionary tactics, stating that threats and propaganda would not protect the guilty.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said the government spoke only after examining NDDB test evidence. BJP State President PVN Madhav accused the previous regime of corrupt governance, while Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav alleged that CFTRI had detected irregularities as early as 2022 but the findings were buried and tender norms were diluted to benefit select suppliers.