The State government on Thursday demanded an unconditional apology from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) over its claim that no adulteration had taken place in the ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) during its term between 2019 and 2024.
Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said that Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Botcha Satyanarayana was maintaining that no adulteration had occurred despite laboratory reports and findings of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT).
He said the party should tender an unconditional apology in the Legislative Council and to devotees of Lord Venkateswara worldwide.
Speaking to reporters in the Legislative Assembly corridors, Mr. Atchannaidu said that unless the YSRCP apologised for what he described as false claims, the government would not agree to a discussion on the issue in the Council, as was being demanded by the opposition party over the past three days.
He alleged that the SIT findings had established facts and even former TTD Chairman Y. V. Subba Reddy had acknowledged the report.
Responding to allegations regarding Heritage Foods, the Minister said the company had a long-standing policy of not supplying products to government institutions, including the TTD. He added that the TTD was procuring pure cow ghee at around 650 per kg through auction, compared to an estimated market price of about 1,000.
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