Bharatiya Janata Party’s Andhra Pradesh unit president and Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeshwari on Tuesday gave a clean chit to her brother-in-law and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tirupati laddu adulteration controversy.
Reacting to the comments made by Supreme Court finding fault with Naidu for making a statement on laddu adulteration without cross-checking the facts, Purandeshwari wondered whether the courts could dictate what the chief minister should speak and what he should not.
“Naidu made a statement on the possible adulteration of ghee with animal fat based on the information he had received from the officials. He might have definitely consulted the officials concerned before speaking on the issue,” she said.
The BJP MP said as the chief minister of the state, he might have thought it appropriate to disclose the information to the people about the sacrilege to the Tirupati laddu.
“I don’t think there is nothing wrong in it,” she said.
She expressed confidence that the court will take into consideration the decisions taken by the government and how they are implemented.
“The court will look into this issue while deciding on laddu adulteration,” she added.
Interestingly, TDP spokesman Kommareddy Pattabhi, too, defended Naidu and said the party would stand by what the chief minister said.
“If the Supreme Court orders an independent probe, we shall welcome it,” he said.
The TDP leader pointed out that there were complaints from pilgrims regarding the smell and quality of laddus.
“That is why samples from four tankers were sent for testing and the reports are there for everyone to see,” he said.