The Tirupati laddu row that has generated political heat in Andhra Pradesh, as both ruling coalition and the main opposition party are locked up in accusing each other, provoking religious sentiments on both sides, has now knocked the doorsteps of the Supreme Court.
The Apex Court will hear the petition of BJP leader and former Union Minister Dr. Subramanian Swamy and former president of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board, who is YCP’s Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy in Tirupati Laddu row on September 30.
Dr Swamy, who has come to the rescue of AP former chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy in this uproar, has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court demanding an investigation into the allegations made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
Notably, Chandrababu Naidu has alleged that animal fat was used in the prasad of Tirupati Tirumala temple. Subba Reddy in his petition also demanded an investigation into these allegations by forming an independent investigation committee (SIT) under a retired Supreme Court judge.
Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh government appointed a nine-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged issue of adulterating Tirupati laddus (consecrated sweet) with animal fats. But, both Dr Swamy and Subba Reddy seem to be making their efforts to avoid any probe by the AP Police.
Subba Reddy has already filed a similar petition in the AP High Court. But even before the High Court looked into his petition, soon after the Chief Minister announced the constitution of a SIT, hurriedly approached the Apex Court.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged during a recent NDA legislative party meeting that the erstwhile YSRCP government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fats for making laddus. The allegations sparked a massive controversy across the country, hurting the sentiments of crores of Hindus.
“The government of Andhra Pradesh, in accordance with its commitment to protecting the sanctity of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), have (has) considered it necessary to constitute an SIT for detailed and comprehensive investigation of the entire issue,” said Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad in a late night order on Thursday.
TTD is the official custodian of Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. On September 22, the CM announced at his Undavalli residence that an SIT will probe the alleged sacrilege of adulterating the laddus.