Explainer: Clash Of Reports Over Tirupati Laddu, Ghee 'Satisfies Parameters', Say SMS Reports

The earth-shattering allegations levelled by sitting Andhra Pradesh CM, Chandra Babu Naidu over the ghee used to prepare highly revered Tirupati laddus containing animal fats have sent shockwaves within the Hindu community across the globe. While the Telugu Desam Party accuses the previous YSRCP government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy of intentionally neglecting quality concerns raised by devotees and political outfits during the course of the last 5 years with a malicious intent of hurting Hindu sentiments, the YSRCP dismissed all the allegations in the name of 'political vendetta'.

WAR OF REPORTS: NDDB VS SMS LABS

The TTD and ruling TDP have depended on test results furnished by the National Dairy Development Board which issued a list of 'suspected adulterants as per ISO 17678:2019' containing Lard, Beef Tallow & Fish Tallow to substantiate their claims.

On the other hand, the supplier in question, AR Dairy put out a series of test reports that were generated by SMS Labs Private Limited & TTD's in-house Water and Food Analysis Lab, which, according to the company and YSRCP clearly conclude that the ghee in question has not been adulterated and meets all required parameters as per the norms in place.

TIMELINE OF THE TESTS

The timeline of the aforementioned tests being conducted and the political activity during these tenures is extremely important. The Water & Food Analysis Lab of TTD collected samples on the 6th and 12th of July respectively. Similarly, AR Dairy sent out their samples a total of 5 times to SMS Labs (a NABL accredited lab) for testing between 3rd of June and 8th of July, 2024 as part of normal procedure that every company has to go through, before starting their supply to TTD. The reports generated by SMS Labs were then submitted to the TTD to prove the quality of the supply as per sources.

The Andhra Pradesh assembly results were declared on the 4th of June, 2024 resulting in TDP being elected and the CM along with his colleagues took oath on the 12th of June, 2024. On the 16th of June, the existing Executive Officer of TTD, J. Shyamala Rao took charge from his predecessor upon being appointed by the new Chief Minister, Nara Chandra Babu Naidu. This essentially means that a few of the tests done by SMS labs & the tests carried out by the Water & Food Analysis Lab of TTD were after the appointment of the new EO.

Coming to the tests done by NDDB. As per the reports shared by the present-day administration, the first round of samples were collected on the 9th of July and the second round of samples were collected on 17th of July, 2024. The final report pertaining to these tests was issued on the 23rd of July, 2024.

It was on the 13th of July, 2024 that the Water and Food Analysis Lab of TTD submitted its second report. Four days later, samples of the Ghee were sent to NDDB for further analysis as the lab did not hold the capability to determine the presence of B.sitosterol & Fatty Acid Composition. Having said that, the report clearly states that the sample's 'aroma and taste' was 'acceptable'.

Coming to the final report generated by NDDB on the 23rd of July, 2024 where it all started, while an annexure attached to the report issues a list of 'suspected adulterants', the report also lists out a total of 8 scenarios or possibilities mainly connected to the process of collecting samples & uncontrollable situations concerning the hormonal activity of the animal the sample has been collected from, which could result in the tests throwing up a 'false negative'.

POLITICAL BATTLE

The TDP-BJP-JSP alliance on one hand and the YSRCP on the other, have been at loggerheads over the issue since the public statement made by the CM. While the ruling 'Kutami' alleges that this was intentionally done by the previous regime to undermine or belittle the sentiments of Hindus, the YSRCP continues to dismiss all allegations and raising question on the authenticity of the reports put out by the TTD and the Government.

When questioned on the delay in making this news public despite receving the reports in July, IT Minister and son of the CM, Nara Lokesh went onto say, " The TTD is an independent body, therefore it took time. The CM is only responsible for appointing the Executive Officer". This provided ammo to the YSRCP who question the TDP attacking the former CM over the alleged adulteration. If the TTD in an independent body and that just justifies the delay, what makes the former CM accountable for the alleged conspiracy?

On the other hand, the ruling alliance highlights the multiple instances over the past 5 years when the integrity pertaining to TTD and Hindu sentiments of the YSRCP and its leader Jagan Mohan Reddy was questioned. The size of the laddu, quality of the laddu and corruption within the TTD have made headlines multiple times in the last few years.

The Andhra Pradesh Congress' chief and sister of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy went onto meet the Governor requesting a CBI probe and stringent action against those responsible. YSRCP floor leader Mithun Reddy went onto say that the TDP is staging this attack against the fomer CM only because he is a Chirstian himself.

Considering the sensitivity of the issue, one would have to say that diving deep into the technicalities is a must and nothing can be concluded before that but one thing is for sure, a full-fledged, non-partisan investigation led by a neutral entity will have to be launched to ensure that the belief system of scores of crores of Hindus is safeguarded.

The bigger, however, is whether the ghee being supplied by the 4 companies who continue to supply to TTD as on date have undergone the same tests to detect the existence of adulterants like Animal Fat.