They were taking back only 40 per cent of the laddu to be distributed locally
The laddu of Khairathabad Ganesh being taken away in a truck to Tapeswaram in East Godavari district. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: Proprietor of Suruchi Foods and donor of the 5,600-kg laddu presented to the Khairatabad Ganesh, P. Malli Babu, said that they were taking back only 40 per cent of the laddu to be distributed locally. “Every year, after the Ganesh immersion 50 per cent of the laddu is taken back to Tapeswaram for distribution. This year we decided to take 40 per cent. The issue after every festival is that there are around 200 Hyderabad leaders who take bags of prasadam from the Khairatabad Utsav Samithi’s share.”
“The same was witnessed this year. We finally decided to take the top portion of the laddu weighing around 1,200 kg. While the laddu was being shifted to the lorry, the locals protested since they were being denied prasadam by the Utsav Samithi. By then it was a stampede like situation,” he said. “The prasadam was escorted by four police officials in an Innova car and another four constables in the lorry. My brother-in-law Ram Krishna and a friend’s son were also present. We had hired 10 workers to carry the laddu from the Khairatabad pandal and shift it to the lorry. We were asked by police not to stop the vehicle anywhere in the city,” he said.
“Close to Ramoji Film City the police stopped the lorry and asked us to proceed. The officials themselves took around 100 kg of the laddu. After the police left, my brother-in-law in the lorry was settling the wages of workers as we had to send them back,” he said. “While paying them, a local channel filmed it and reported that the prasadam was being sold. Also men in a Skoda car claiming to be a minister’s brother tried to attack Ram Krishna and demanded a portion of the laddu. They took around 200 kg. The news that the laddu was being sold is incorrect. We have been donating the laddu since 2010,” Mr Malli Babu added.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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