Amaravati, Nov 27 (NationPress) Y.V. Subba Reddy, the former Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) and current YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader, has publicly criticized the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for what he perceives as a harmful political campaign against the revered Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.

He emphasized that the sacred temple is being unfairly pulled into political disputes due to a persistent campaign of misinformation surrounding the Laddu prasadam, especially while an SIT investigation is ongoing.

Subba Reddy pointed out that distorted information and false narratives are being circulated to tarnish the temple's esteemed global reputation.

In a media briefing in Delhi on Thursday, he asserted his innocence and expressed his readiness to undergo any inquiry, including a public lie detector test, in front of the media.

He reflected on his tenure as an MP and the two terms he served as TTD Chairman, during which he diligently worked to maintain the temple's sanctity.

His family's dedication to spiritual service spans generations, and he has personally undertaken Ayyappa Deeksha nearly 30 times.

Subba Reddy alleged that he has become a target due to his association with former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He claimed that TDP and its allied media are intentionally linking the Laddu controversy to him for political advantage.

He recalled that it was Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu who made unfounded allegations regarding the use of animal fat in Laddus, which compelled him to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court to protect the temple's honor.

He questioned why he would approach the Supreme Court if he had anything to conceal.

Subba Reddy argued that TDP's accusations are poorly substantiated.

"There has been no verification regarding whether vegetable fat or animal fat was used, nor whether the tankers in question even entered the Laddu production line. With TTD's rigorous lab checks, no substandard ghee can enter production," he stated, adding that tankers were rejected during both TDP's and YSRCP's terms.

The tankers currently under scrutiny were delivered in June–July 2024, while Chandrababu Naidu was in office, and SIT confirmed they were rejected and subsequently rerouted in August, once again under TDP rule.

If any adulteration occurred, the responsibility rests entirely with the former government, he emphasized.

He noted that the same laboratory operated under both administrations, but it was enhanced during his leadership with NDDB-supported equipment valued at Rs 80 lakh.

Claims suggesting that 20 crore Laddus from 2019 to 2024 utilized adulterated ghee are scandalous and politically charged, he remarked.

He clarified that TTD obtains ghee from multiple suppliers every six months, with no single company supplying the entire quantity.

The supplier whose tankers were rejected in June–July 2024 was providing to TTD for the first time.

"While TDP accuses YSRCP of purchasing ghee at Rs 326/kg, TDP itself acquired it at Rs 276, Rs 279, and Rs 295/kg earlier. If price indicates adulteration, TDP's purchases should also be scrutinized," he asserted.

Subba Reddy urged the SIT to conduct a thorough 10-year investigation instead of a selective one.

He also pointed out that despite alleging adulteration, the TDP government procured ghee at Rs 475/kg in September 2024, which, by their own reasoning, should also be questioned.

He reaffirmed that he has never sought financial gain from TTD, despite overseeing tenders worth hundreds of crores.

Under his chairmanship, TTD reportedly saved approximately Rs 90–100 crore by reviewing inflated tenders for Srinivasa Setu.

He disclosed that Rs 1,200 crore improperly placed by the previous TDP government in YES Bank was promptly moved to nationalized banks, just weeks before YES Bank's downfall.

VIP culture was minimized by eliminating L1–L2 break darshans.

The use of plastic in Tirumala was significantly reduced.

Organic and cow-based products were utilized for all nivedyam, and 100 cows from TTD's gosala provided milk and ghee for the deity.

Financial support was extended to over 516 goshalas.

He highlighted major initiatives during his tenure, including a 50,000 square feet children's heart hospital providing free treatment to 3,000 children, and the ongoing Rs 350 crore Sri Padmavati Multi-Specialty Hospital.

TTD's inaugural White Paper listing 960 temple properties was published, along with a board resolution stating that temple assets must never be sold.

The SRIVANI Trust was established to remove intermediaries; despite TDP labeling it corrupt, the scheme persists today.

Subba Reddy criticized the current government's mishandling of Vaikuntha Ekadashi token distribution, which led to a stampede resulting in six fatalities.