Statues of Naidu, YSR covered with Bathukamma saris in Nalgonda District

Hyderabad: Officials used Bathukamma saris, meant to be supplied by the government to the poor, to cover statues of N. Chandrababu Naidu and other political leaders, in Nalgonda district.

The saris, which are dumped at panchayat offices and fair price shops in rural areas because the model code of conduct (MCC) has halted their distribution, were being used as material to cover statues of Naidu, Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and Indira Gandhi in Nalgonda district.

The state government had purchased 1.02 crore saris, which were made by weavers in Sircilla by spending '350 crore, meant for distribution to women and girls on the occasion of Bathukamma festival, which started on Saturday.

Chityal tahsildar Prasad said that they had noticed that saris were being used to cover statues of several leaders at different places in the mandal. "Soon thereafter, our staff swung into action and removed such saris and covered statues with other material," Prasad said.