Probe into Bathukamma sarees distribution demanded

Hanamkonda: Large scale misappropriation of funds has taken place in the procurement and distribution of Bathukamma sarees, alleged the district BJP leaders.

A massive demonstration led by the party district president Rao Padma was staged at Warangal urban district collectorate in Hanamkonda on Tuesday by the party activists, demanding a probe into the distribution of sarees.

Though the State government was claiming that Rs 220 crores spent on procuring the sarees, there were reports that about Rs 105 crores spent in procuring about 1.05 crore sarees. The government must give accounts of the remaining amount, the party leaders demanded.

Rao Padma along with the party leaders M Dharma Rao, Dr S Vijayalakshmi, G Yadagiri, R Amarender Reddy, Gurumurthy Siva Kumar and others have submitted a memorandum to the District Collector, Amrapali Kata.

They complained that even as the government claimed that handloom sarees would be distributed to women poor quality polyester sarees from Surat were purchased. They cost of the sarees would be Rs 50 only and most of the sarees given to women were damaged.

The women, who work as agriculture labour in rural areas, have waited in long queues to get the sarees foregoing their day’s labour. Neither the women nor the handloom workers were benefitted with the distribution of sarees, noted the president Rao Padma.

Hence serious action should be taken against those responsible for the alleged misappropriation of funds, she said. Pandemonium prevailed at the collectorate as the women gathering at the office shouted slogans and played Bathukamma.

In Warangal, the district Mahila Congress president Poshala Padma led a protest at head post office area, where the party activists burnt the sarees. She complained that the Chief Minister, K Chadrashekar Rao, had insulted the women in the State by distributing poor quality and damaged sarees on the occasion of Bathukamma festival.