Amidst a controversy over the alleged presence of animal fat in 'prasadam' laddus distributed at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Supreme Court. The senior leader sought an investigation by a Court-monitored committee into the matter that has snowballed into a major controversy. The former Rajya Sabha member claimed that the laddu row was politicized causing deep hurt to crores of worshippers of Tirupati Lord Venkateshwara.
Meanwhile, a Telugu media reported that Subramanian Swamy came down heavily on TDP supremo and Andhra chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for using the matter for political mileage. He minced no words in his criticism of the BJP ally, and went on to add that the TDP-led alliance will not complete its tenure in the state, Sakshi.com said in a report.
Subramanian Swamy said devotees of Tirupati temple should not believe Chandrababu Naidu's words who is "telling raw lies". The Supreme Court should monitor the investigation so that the guilty are found and not the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Naidu government.
"Devotees of Shrivari should not believe the words of Chandrababu. Chandrababu committed a great sin by using Srivara for his political selfishness. Defeat is inevitable for Chandrababu who is spreading evil propaganda against Srivari. Chandrababu's government will not survive for five years," Sakshi.com quoted Swamy as telling them in an interview.
"Chandrababu is telling raw lies. The investigation should be conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court and not by the SIT appointed by Chandrababu. Who is guilty in this case should be found. This case should be decided in the court itself," he added.
In the PIL, Swamy mentioned in the PIL that "certain individuals to make a political statement out of the" development. He requested the apex court to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to file a detailed report on the source and sampling of the ghee used for making the laddus.
"In the light of the severe political rebuttal and also in the light of the aggravated sense of hurt in the minds of the crores of worshippers of Lord Venkateshwara, and a propaganda, completely insensitive to the nature of the present fact situation, by leaking to the media houses, the contents of a lab report, the Petitioner prays for a committee under the monitoring of this Court/or under a Retd. Judge of this Hon'ble Court to be formed", Live Law quoted Swamy's petition as stating.
Animal fat in Tirumala laddus: The controversy
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's claim that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in the southern state has triggered a massive political row.
The YSR Congress Party has accused Naidu of indulging in "heinous allegations" for political gains and the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the state circulating a laboratory report to back its claim.
Two days later, on September 20, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao told a press conference that lab tests had revealed the presence of animal fat and lard in the chosen samples and the board is in the process of blacklisting the contractor who supplied "adulterated" ghee.