Hyderabad: Even though water shortage is affecting the entire state, including the twin cities, it hasn’t dampened Holi spirit. The three-day holiday for Assembly and Legislative Council ensured ministers and MLAs enjoyed the festival of colours with family, friends and party workers.
Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya, irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, commercial taxes minister T. Srinivas Yadav, excise minister T. Padma Rao and other ministers played Holi in city and in their constituencies.
Wearing a green T-shirt, Mr Harish Rao played Holi in his native Siddipet along with party workers, journalists and locals.
“I hope this Holi bri-ngs happiness and colour in everyone’s lives. Like the unity during Holi, we should strive to achieve Bangaru Telangana,” Mr Harish Rao who was smeared in gulal remarked.
Read: Hyderabad taps dry, but Holi celebrated with water
He also spent time with party leaders discussing strategy to ensure victory for the TRS in 34 ward in Siddipet civic polls.
For a change, commercial taxes minister T. Srinivas Yadav was smeared with yellow in Czech Colony, Sanath-nagar. A rain dance was also conducted.
“Holi is celebrated with gusto irrespective of caste, creed and colour in Telangana. It’s a festival for all. We should enjoy our traditional festivals. Due to influence of western culture our traditional festivals are being watered down. Sankranti, which used to be celebrated on a big scale in Hyderabad is slowly on the wane,” he lamented.
Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya played Holi with party workers and people from Ramnagar. The senior BJP leader was smeared with gulal from head to toe. Party workers, friends, relatives called on other ministers in Ministers’ Quarters, Banjara Hills and played Holi.
