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Published: Monday, 23 September 2024, 17:18 [IST]
Amid the ongoing controversy over the Tirupati Laddu, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which supplies the ghee used for the prasad, announced that its vehicles will be monitored using GPS to prevent adulteration. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) recently awarded the ghee supply contract to the KMF's Nandini dairy.
KMF managing director Jagadish told PTI, “We are currently supplying ghee to TTD and our vehicles are equipped with GPS and geolocation devices. These systems enable us to track the vehicles in real time and we get alerts when the vehicles make unscheduled stops so that there is no possibility of tampering.”
Under the contract, Nandini TTD will supply 350 tonnes of ghee.
The controversy erupted nationwide last week when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of using animal fats in the preparation of the famous Tirupati Laddu. A laboratory report later revealed the presence of substandard ghee and lard (pork fat) in recent samples, triggering widespread outrage and demands for a thorough investigation. Former AP Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy denied the allegations and accused Naidu's party of politicising the Lord Venkateshwara issue.
In response, the Karnataka government has mandated the use of Nandini Ghee in all temples in the state that distribute prasadam to devotees.
Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “All major temples in Karnataka will soon receive a circular asking them to use only Nandini Ghee of KMF in their prasadam. We will also conduct tests on the prasadam served in these temples.”
Weeks before the controversy broke out, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had dispatched Nandini vehicles to supply ghee to Tirupati.
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