During a heated debate in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu strongly denied allegations that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) procured ghee from Heritage Foods. Countering the YSR Congress Party, he alleged that cement from Bharathi Cement Corporation was used in previous government housing schemes. The debate revolves around the Tirumala laddu ghee adulteration controversy, which has escalated into a political confrontation.

Assembly Debate on Tirumala Laddu Ghee Issue

The Andhra Pradesh government initiated an extended discussion in the Assembly to address allegations linked to the Tirumala laddu ghee adulteration controversy.

CM Chandrababu Naidu categorically rejected claims that TTD purchased ghee from Heritage Foods, clarifying:

Heritage is a private family-run enterprise
No government department has procured even a single kilogram of ghee from the company
Allegations linking Heritage to the Tirumala issue are politically motivated

He accused opposition leaders of attempting to damage the company’s reputation through negative media narratives.

Counter Allegation: Bharti Cement in Govt Projects

In a sharp political counterattack, Chandrababu alleged that cement supplied by Bharathi Cement was used in government housing schemes and infrastructure projects during the previous regime led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

This shifted the debate from dairy procurement to construction materials used in state-funded works.

Indapur Dairy Clarification

The Chief Minister also clarified that Indapur Dairy, located in Pune, operates as a co-manufacturing facility supplying products for multiple national brands, including:

Mother Dairy
Britannia Industries
Patanjali Ayurved
DMart
Reliance Retail
Dodla Dairy
Hudson Agro Products
GRB Dairy Foods
Amul
Heritage Foods

He argued that linking Indapur Dairy exclusively to Heritage was misleading, as it manufactures for several well-known brands.

Political Context

The controversy stems from allegations of adulterated ghee used in Tirumala laddu preparation. The issue has triggered political sparring between the ruling alliance and the YSR Congress Party, turning a temple administration matter into a high-voltage political debate.

Key Entities

N. Chandrababu Naidu – Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy – Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) – Temple Administrative Trust
Heritage Foods – Private Dairy Enterprise
Bharathi Cement Corporation – Cement Manufacturing Company
Indapur Dairy – Co-Manufacturing Dairy Unit, Pune

Final Verdict

The Assembly debate underscores how the Tirumala laddu controversy has evolved beyond food safety concerns into a broader political battle. Chandrababu’s rebuttal and counter-allegations signal that the issue will likely continue to dominate Andhra Pradesh politics in the coming weeks.