Tirupati row: Jagan Reddy says CM Naidu should feel ashamed for ‘spreading lies’

Triggering fresh controversy, YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday hit back at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over the Tirupati laddu prasadam row, saying that the CM “is spreading blatant lies’. Even the Supreme Court agreed that such comments hurt the sentiments of Hindus, he noted.
The YSRCP chief said Andhra CM Naidu should have some remorse after the top court’s ruling on Tirupati laddu and added, “The Supreme Court highlighted the comments made by CM Chandrababu Naidu, stating that they hurt the sentiments of Hindus and warned against using religious matters for political drama. The SIT, which was formed by the CM, was also halted. The sanctity of TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) and prasadam was damaged by Chandrababu Naidu’s false comments. Even the courts questioned CM Chandrababu Naidu for making allegations on TTD.”
 
“Even after the court order, he (CM Naidu) should feel ashamed for spreading false news… He is spreading blatant lies. I don’t understand why he is posting on social media that the Supreme Court expressed anger toward YSRCP,” Jagan Mohan Reddy said. 
Stating that a robust mechanism was implemented in TTD for manufacturing prasadam during the YSRCP regime, Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “The tankers were sent back 14 times during our regime (2014 to 2019). They are not allowed to enter for utilisation without passing quality checks. Three tests are to be conducted before the product is used. If a tanker fails to qualify in even a single test, it will be sent back without being used.”
A TTD executive officer handpicked by CM Naidu himself said adulterated ghee was never used in making laddu prasadam, the former Andhra CM said.
The Supreme Court on Friday set up a five-member “independent” SIT to probe the allegations of animal fat use in making Tirupati laddus, while making it clear that it will not permit the court to be used as a “political battleground”.
The development assumes significance as the top court-appointed panel would replace the Andhra Pradesh government’s special investigation team (SIT) constituted on September 26 to probe the politically sensitive row over the alleged use of animal fat in making these laddus.