Vijayawada: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has asked ministers, MLAs and party leaders to stay away from Karthika Vanabhojanalu.
The Chief Minister mentioned that attending these functions would suggest that they favour certain communities.
On the other hand, ministers say that as the said practice has been on since ages and families would be hurt if one does not attend. They also say that not attending may be a great loss to party and government.
The practice of organising Vanabhojanalu, a garden party, in the auspicious season of Kartheeka Masam has now spread across different districts. Inviting ministers and celebrities from their own community to such a gathering has become a prestigious issue for organisers.
Bhaghavat Deekshithulu, a Vedic Pundit said, “Vanabhojanalu is a traditional ritual practice in karthika masam which has its own importance. But it is very pathetic and distressing to see communities organising this holy ritual on political basis inviting top most leaders and celebrities changing its essence to western culture.”
He added that organisers are behaving competitively and inviting MLAs, ministers and party leaders of their own community and even hiring anchors for this event to make it more effective than ones organised by other communities.
To avoid hurting the sentiments certain communities, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has asked his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and leaders not to entertain this kind of events as it impacts healthy relations between communities and causes unrest, which in turn has its impact in politics.
Reacting to this a minister said, “We have a lot of pressure from community groups inviting us for the Vanabhojanalu which we can’t decline as they are our closest supporters.”
He requested the Chief Minister to give the matter, a second thought.
