A video of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister S. Ramesh asking his aides to direct TVK party members to ascertain if packed prasadam sold through temple outlets featured expiry dates was widely circulated on social media platforms on Sunday.

The Minister inspected the Arulmigu Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari temple at Tiruvanaikoil in Tiruchi and held discussions with the officials. In the video clip taken during the inspection, the Minister is seen asking his aides to direct his party members to check the prasadams sold through the stalls and send him the photographs.

He also said the party members should not enter the prasadam stalls as “Inspectors”, and instead“request” those manning them to show them the expiry date of the prasadams.

However, speaking to reporters after the inspection, Mr. Ramesh said he had ordered the department officials to regularly inspect the prasadam stalls, drinking water and toilets facilities, and Annadhanam kitchens in all temples across the State.

Instructions have been given to the officials to ensure that the prasadam stalls adhered to food safety standards and initiate action in case of violations.

Mr. Ramesh said the Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and Executive Officers of temples must also ensure healthy practices and provision of drinking water to devotees at temples.

Earlier, he inspected facilities available for devotees at the Tiruvanaikoil temple, maintenance of temple elephant ‘Akila’, and inspected the prasadam stall to ascertain if the packed prasadam featured the date of expiry.

He asked the temple officials to ensure the toilets inside the temple complex are cleaned at least five times every day and maintain a separate register for this purpose containing the names of the workers.

He participated in the 24th birthday celebration of the temple elephant Akila and fed it fruits and vegetables.

The Minister also visited the Rockfort Arulmigu Thayumanaswamy temple in Tiruchi and inspected the work on the new Ambal wooden temple car.

He advised the officials to expedite the new temple car work.