Questioning the needs for the Andhra Pradesh government to rush to the press with allegations on use of adulterated ghee being used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the Supreme Court today raised serious concerns on the government using god for political benefits.
The court told the Andhra government’s lawyers that the lab reports indicate that the ghee that was subjected to the test was the rejected sample. Further, BR Gavai asked the senior advocate Siddharth Luthra if the ghee which was not found in conformity with the standards was used for making laddus.
While hearing the petitions, the Supreme Court made it clear that religion and politics cannot be mixed. In a series of pointed questions and keen observations, honorable court underlined the lack of definitive proof of contamination of ghee. The court also pointed to an ongoing inquiry and a false positive testing caveat.
Pointing out Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s public statements on this contentious issue the court said, “When you as the chief minister hold a constitutional post… we expect Gods to be kept away from the politics”.
The bench was distinctly unhappy as the report came in July and the statement came in September and the report is not at all clear. Mr Naidu’s comments were soon echoed by members of his Telugu Desam Party and allies Jana Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, triggering a massive political row in the southern state. The Chief Minister also proclaimed, and carried out, a ‘purification’ ceremony for the famous temple.
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