Ghee used for TTD ‘laddu’ is tested thrice: Jagan

Former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused Chandrababu Naidu of engaging in diversionary tactics by spreading misinformation about the Tirumala ‘Laddu Prasadam’. He claims this is an attempt to shift public attention away from the failures of Naidu’s first 100 days of governance.
Speaking at the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) central office on Friday, Jagan asserted that every tanker supplying ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) must carry a National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certificate. He added that each tanker would undergo three rounds of testing, and only if the ghee passes all tests would it be approved for use in preparing the sacred ‘laddu’.
Jagan criticised Naidu for allegedly tarnishing the reputation and sanctity of the renowned temple, accusing him of using such claims to divert attention from his administration’s shortcomings. He further questioned Naidu’s role when ghee samples were collected on 12 July 2024, a time when the latter was the serving Chief Minister.
Jagan pointed out that the ghee samples were sent to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) on 17 July, and the report was issued on 23 July. He questioned why Naidu remained silent for two months after receiving the report and is now raising the issue. He added that during the YSRCP tenure, substandard ghee had been rejected 18 times, a clear indication of their commitment to quality.
He accused Naidu of desecrating the sanctity of Tirumala, stating that such incidents had never occurred in the state’s history.
Jagan further mentioned that the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) had not supplied ghee between 2015 and 2018. Only after rigorous testing is the ghee used for laddu prasadam. He contrasted the two administrations, noting that under the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) rule from 2014 to 2019, ghee was rejected 14 to 15 times, while under the YSRCP, it had been rejected 18 times for failing to meet quality standards.
Jagan highlighted several reforms introduced at TTD since the YSRCP came to power, including improvements to the laboratories associated with the temple. He stressed that the TTD operates as an independent body, free from government interference.