Devotees complimenting improved quality of Tirupati laddoo, says Andhra CM amid row

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said devotees visiting Lord Venkateswara temple on Tirumala hills had expressed satisfaction over the quality of ‘laddoo prasadam’.

Addressing mediapersons after inaugurating the Vakulaamatha centralised kitchen established by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Tirumala hills, Naidu said besides setting up labs for checking the quality of ingredients used to make laddoo prasadam, if required, the TTD might also consult IIT at Tirupati to take its suggestions on the processes at Tirumala.

The CM’s remarks came amid recent allegations of the CM and TTD Executive Officer that adulterated ghee was used in making laddoo prasadam during the previous YSR Congress regime, a charge rubbished by former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

“Several people expressed happiness saying that they were satisfied (with laddoo quality). We have seen several incidents (during the previous regime) of people expressing dissatisfaction over the quality of laddoo in Tirumala Hills. They agitated on that issue which is not auspicious. Those issues were ignored previously. Today we are taking the feedback from the devotees,” he said. Asserting that the present regime won’t tolerate any impurity issues, he said the TTD was committed to protecting the sanctity of Lord Balaji.