Tirumala laddu issue: Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar flays YSRCP’s denial of wrongdoing

Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar on Sunday criticised the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for denying any wrongdoing in the Tirumala laddu issue in spite of it being exposed by the CBI in its report that was submitted to the State government under court supervision.

“This is not politics, but a highly sensitive matter in which the sentiments of millions of devotees have been hurt,” he told the media in Tenali.

The CBI made clear that adulteration had taken place. But, the YSRCP launched a counter-attack in the most objectionable manner for the sake of political mileage, Mr. Manohar said.

Mr. Manohar expressed outrage over ghee adulteration, and regretted that the YSRCP was backing those involved in the offence. The YSRCP leaders had no moral right to speak on the issue after investigative reports (that not a single drop of quality ghee was found in the six million litres that were supplied) had emerged.

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan was committed to protecting the Hindu dharma and averse to mocking other religions, he said, stressing the need for a thorough overhaul of the TTD administration to ensure that such sacrilegious incidents did not recur.