The controversy over holding of Casino at Gudivada as part of Sankranti festivities is hotting up with every passing day.
The Telugu Desam Party leaders have been attacking the YSR Congress party leaders, particularly state civil supplies minister Kodali Nani in whose convention centre the Casino was allegedly conducted.
There has been in heated exchange of words between Nani and TDP leaders over the Casino issue, which ultimately led to the arrest of senior TDP leader Buddha Venkanna on Monday night.
On Tuesday, it was the turn of the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders to make an issue out of this Casino controversy.
A team of BJP leaders led by state party president Somu Veerraju and comprising Rajya Sabha member C M Ramesh, MLC P V N Madhav and others left for Gudivada to take an anti-Casino programme.
The BJP leaders announced that they would hold the real Sankranti celebrations as per traditions at Gudivada to convey to the people how the festival is celebrated.
“We are holding a programme as a culmination of Sankranti festivities at Gudivada,” Veerraju said.
However, the police denied permission for the BJP leaders at Gudivada. Though the BJP leaders initially booked a local marriage hall for the celebrations, the hall owner cancelled the booking obviously under pressure from the police and the local YSRC leaders.
“We want to show how Sankranti festivals are celebrated – with Haridasus, Gangireddulu and women in traditional clothes taking part in the festivities. We don’t bring scantily-dressed cheer girls and there would be no half-naked dances. We shall display the real tradition,” Veerraju said.
Taking a dig at Nani, the BJP state president said one could not become a religious person by sporting beards and tying talisman to the hands.
“Let these people understand how one should wear decent clothes,” he said.
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