Monday , October 7 2024

SC reprimanded CM Naidu on Tirupati Laddu controversy, said- keep God away from politics, know what else he said

Tirupati 1727685304

The Tirupati temple Laddu controversy was heard in the Supreme Court on Monday. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan heard the matter. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy former president of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Trust and Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy have filed a petition in the Supreme Court. Subramanian Swamy’s petition has demanded an investigation into the allegations made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

The counsel for the petitioner said, “The investigation revealed that the construction material was going to the kitchen without any inspection, whereas there should be a responsible system for supervision because this is the prasad of the deity, it is extremely sacred for the public and devotees. If there is any question mark on the prasad of God, then it should be investigated. There should be an impartial investigation. Stating without any proof that the prasad is adulterated, this statement is disturbing. What is the responsibility of a person sitting on a high post? Today it is a matter of religion, tomorrow it can be something else.

At the same time, lawyers Mukul Rohatgi and Siddharth Luthra questioned Subramanian Swamy’s petition and said that Swamy himself has been a member of TTD. On behalf of the state government, lawyer Mukul Rohatgi said that flaws were found in the investigation of ghee, after which the state government formed SIT. Mukul Rohatgi said that we have the lab report. The Supreme Court asked that the report is not clear at all. If you had already ordered the investigation, then what was the need to go to the media? The report came in July, the statement came in September.

What was the need to go to the press immediately? – Justice Gavai 

While hearing the case, Justice Gavai commented that keep God away from politics. Justice KV Vishwanathan asked the state government’s lawyer how did you go to the public about this until you were not sure. What was the purpose of the investigation? Advocate Siddharth Luthra, on behalf of the state government, said that in the last few years, ghee has started being purchased from private vendors. There were complaints about the quality. We gave a show-cause notice to the tenderer. Justice Gavai asked whether the ghee that was found to be not up to the standards was used for Prasad. Luthra said that we are investigating. On this, Justice Gavai said, then what was the need to go to the press immediately? You should respect religious sentiments.

Where is the proof that this ghee was used to make laddus- Justice Vishwanathan

Justice Vishwanathan said where is the proof that this ghee was used to make laddus? Luthra said that the tenders were opened in March, and supply started in April. Weekly supply was done in June, and July. Justice Vishwanathan said, how many contractors were supplying, was this ghee mixed with the approved ghee. It is not clear anywhere that it was used. This test has been done and the report is in the public domain, but the investigation is still pending. Lawyer Siddharth Luthra said, once it is found that the product is not appropriate, a second test is also done. After that, it is tested in the laboratory. The new supply came on July 6. It was sent to the lab. We got the lab report. These ghees were not used.

Justice Gavai said, did the lab take samples of the tanker of June 12 and the tanker of June 20? Justice Vishwanathan said, that once you approve the supply, ghee is brought and everything is mixed, how do you identify which contractor has supplied it?