Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has issued instructions to the party cadres not to perform palaabhishekam (milk ablutions) and jalabhishekam (water ablutions) on Thursday during party programmes.

TPCC has banned milk and water ablutions during party programmes and also banned garlanding leaders with JCBs and bulldozers. State Congress Chief Mahesh Kumar Goud has issued instructions to the party cadres not to perform palaabhishekam (milk ablutions) and jalabhishekam (water ablutions) under any circumstances at any Congress party programme, irrespective of the occasion or venue.

Such programmes go against the principles of the Congress party, he said. He warned that those violating the party directions would face disciplinary action. TPCC Vice-President T. Kumar Rao issued a circular in this regard. The circular states that the decisions have been taken in accordance with the directions of AICC In-Charge for Telangana, Meenakshi Natrajan.

He made it clear evert party functionary is required to adhere to the decision prohibiting Palabhishekam and Jalaabhishekam. Such practices are completely contrary to the ideology and principles of the Congress Party which involves wastage of food items, specifically when people face malnutrition.

The TPCC suggested that the party cadres may instead undertake distribution of food items. Further it has been observed during the visits of senior party leaders across the State, some leaders have been using JCBs, bulldozers and other heavy machinery to place oversized garlands on them. This practice is strictly prohibited. As these vehicles are symbols of oppression, from now onwards, the use of such vehicles or machinery for garlanding party leaders will also invite disciplinary action, it said.