Hyderabad, July 16 (IANS) Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has banned milk and water ablutions during party programmes, party sources said on Thursday.

The ruling party has also banned garlanding leaders with JCBs and bulldozers.

State Congress Chief Mahesh Kumar Goud has issued instructions to the party cadres not to perform ‘palaabhishekam’ (milk ablutions) and ‘jalabhishekam’ (water ablutions) under any circumstances at any Congress party programme, irrespective of the occasion or venue.

He said that such programmes go against the principles of the Congress party.

He warned that those violating the party directions would face disciplinary action.

TPCC Vice-President T. Kumar Rao on Thursday issued a circular in this regard. It states that the decisions have been taken in accordance with the directions of AICC In-Charge for Telangana, Meenakshi Natrajan.

He made it clear evert party functionary is required to adhere to the decision prohibiting ‘Palabhishekam’ and ‘Jalaabhishekam’.

“Such practices are completely contrary to the ideology and principles of the Congress Party which involves wastage of food items, specifically when people face malnutrition,” the circular said.

The TPCC suggested that the party cadres may instead undertake distribution of food items.

“Further it has been observed during the visits of senior party leaders across the State, some leaders have been using JCBs, bulldozers and other heavy machinery to place oversized garlands on them. This practice is strictly prohibited. As these vehicles are symbols of oppression, from now onwards, the use of such vehicles or machinery for garlanding party leaders will also invite disciplinary action,” it said.

Cadres performing milk and water ablutions of the portraits or statues of the leaders is a common practice in all the political parties in the state. Such programmes are organised to mark special occasions like birth anniversaries or major announcements.

Cadres of almost all the parties also use JCBs or bulldozers to garland the leaders during rallies and public meetings.

–IANS

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