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He told a press conference that the SIT will be headed by an Inspector General (IG) or a higher official.

Stating that action would be taken against the guilty based on the SIT report, he vowed to purify Tirumala and restore its glory.

Naidu said due to suspicion over the quality of ghee being used for making laddu prasadam, samples from four tankers were sent to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for analysis. He claimed that lab reports revealed the presence of pork and beef fat.

The Chief Minister said Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Executive Officer Shyamala Rao issued notices to concerned organisations and blacklisted them. A committee of experts was constituted for subsequent action and fresh tenders were called.  

Naidu remarked that former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy defended the wrong in the letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The letter is full of lies. Tirumala does not have a system to conduct full-fledged tests to check adulteration,” he said.

He alleged that in the name of reverse tendering, Jagan did not even spare Tirumala. He changed the rules to give tenders to his own people for commissions, he said and claimed that even those who could not produce ghee participated in the bidding.

The TDP chief alleged that Jagan used Tirumala for political advantages and appointed those who did not believe in Lord Venkateswara as TTD chairman. “TTD board was turned into a political rehabilitation centre. Tirmala was desecrated in every way,” he said.

Recalling that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam signed affidavits while visiting Tirumala that they were believers of Lord Venkateswara, the TDP chief asked Jagan Mohan Reddy why he did not sign an affidavit.

The Chief Minister launched a counterattack on YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders Y. S. Subba Reddy and Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, who served as chairmen of TTD during the YSRCP rule. Naidu claimed that Subba Reddy’s wife goes around with a Bible in her hand while Karunakar Reddy performs the marriage of his daughter as per Christian traditions.

Referring to the 2003 claymore mine attack on him by Maoists near Tirumala, Naidu claimed that Lord Venkateswara gave him a new life. He also claimed that he got another term as the chief minister for the purification of Tirumala.

The Chief Minister said no ruler in the past dared to tarnish the sanctity of Tirumala. He said when Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy said Tirumala has only two hills, he fought against him.

Naidu claimed that immediately after taking oath as the chief minister, he started purification at Tirumala by appointing Shyamala Rao as the TTD chairman. He revealed that as part of purification, a yagam was held at Tirumala on August 15. Agama Advisory Council of TTD has decided to conduct Shanti Homam. Shanti Homam and ‘Panchagravya Prokshana’ will be conducted on Monday.

--IANS
 

The result was decided Sunday evening after Sri Lanka's first-ever presidential run-off with the counting of second preference votes as both Dissanayake and Samagi Jana Sandhanaya party's Sajith Premadasa failed to get the required percentage of votes.

The Lankan Election Commission announced that Dissanayake won the presidency with 42.31 per cent of the vote share with Premadasa finishing second and incumbent President Wickremesinghe, who was eliminated after the first round, ending in third position.

"President Anura Dissanayake, With deepest affection, I entrust to you the beloved child of Sri Lanka," Wickremesinghe said as he began his address to the people of the island nation.

The Lankan President extended his sincere thanks to all those who supported him during his tenure and reflected on his role as a caretaker, stating that he had guided "the beloved child of Sri Lanka" across significant challenges, symbolized by the "Vine Bridge".

"Two years ago, I took over a bankrupt country and a collapsed economy at an extremely turbulent time. I accepted the challenge at a time when no one else had the courage to face it. I successfully completed the responsibility that history put upon my shoulders. I was able to rescue my motherland from bankruptcy within a short period of two years. I believe this to be the most important thing I could do for my country during my political career," remarked Wickremesinghe.

"Inflation was 70 per cent when I took over the country, but I could reduce it to 0.5 per cent during my time as the President. I increased the Foreign Reserve, which was at USD 20 Million when I came to power, to USD 5.7 Billion. I was able to ensure that the Sri Lankan Rupee which was 380 against the US Dollar, came down to a strong and solid amount of 300. Also, when I took over, the economic growth of the country was negative 7.3 per cent (- 7.3%). But I was able to increase it to a positive 2.3 per cent (2.3%). I am happy and proud about it," he added.

Having gradually controlled the island nation's worst-ever economic crisis, Wickremesinghe had asked the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to support him in the Presidential Election but eventually fought the elections as an independent candidate.

"I believe that the future generation of the country will give the proper assessment for my historical political role, the way it deserves. I am aware that my place in history as the ruler of this country will be decided not today, but in future. I followed the right path and saved people from hunger and sorrow. I hope that the new President will also follow the right path and put an end to the remaining issues that the people are facing. I was eventually able to carry the dear child called Sri Lanka along a long distance safely – on the dangerous rope bridge," he said on Sunday.

He expressed confidence that under new President Dissanayake's leadership, the journey will continue safely and successfully.

"Close to the very end of the rope bridge, people have decided to handover the dear child called Sri Lanka to President Anura Dissanayake. Mr. President, here I handover to you with much love, the dear child called Sri Lanka, whom we both love very dearly. I wish that you will be able to carry this child away from the bridge to the other bank, even safer than the way I carried the child. I will be devoted to serving my motherland with or without power, with or without a post or powers, for the rest of my life," the outgoing President said while concluding his address.

--IANS
 

More than 16,000 people - many of them travelling from all corners of the US overnight - have gathered at the Long Island to listen to PM Modi's speech at the community reception.

A cultural programme, depicting the diversity of Indian culture, began long before the PM's arrival at the packed venue.

A tight security cordon has been laid around the entire area with the Transportation Security Agency, which checks passengers at airports, conducting a similar operation by funnelling visitors through metal detectors, making them remove phones and metal objects, and checking their bags.

"After programmes in Delaware, landed in New York. Eager to be among the diaspora at the community programme in the city and to take part in other programmes," PM Modi posted on X after landing in New York early Sunday morning, India time.

This would be the second big event that Nassau County authorities will be handling in less than a week after former US President Donald Trump held an election rally at the Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday.

On Saturday, immediately after his arrival in Philadelphia, the Prime Minister had shared his eagerness to meet the Indian diaspora and Americans from across the US at the New York event.

"The Indian community has distinguished itself in the USA, making a positive impact across diverse sectors. It's always a delight to interact with them. At around 9:30 PM India time on Sunday, 22nd September, I will address the 'Modi and US' programme in New York City. Let's celebrate the bonds that connect our nations!" he mentioned after landing in Philadelphia following a nearly 16-hour journey from New Delhi.

Preparations for the key engagement, sandwiched between the Quad Summit convened by US President Joe Biden in Delaware on Saturday and PM Modi's address to the United Nations Summit of the Future on Monday, have been going on for past many weeks with the organisers overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to attend the event billed as 'Modi and US, Progress Together'.

"We are just so proud of Modiji, and we're proud to be part of this great celebration. Modiji, we love you, and we want you to be very successful in whatever you're doing for our country," said a lady who had arrived early at the venue on Sunday.

The multi-purpose arena, which is the home of the Long Island Nets basketball team, is in Uniondale, about 50 kilometres from Manhattan.

"This is an event that's being organised by the community. As you know, we have about 4.5 million strong Indian diaspora in the United States, amongst the largest such groups there, and one that has made a mark for itself and is contributing to the relationship between the two countries by acting as a vibrant living bridge between the two of us," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said earlier this week.

--IANS

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