Truck laden with Bathukamma sarees creates flutters

Khammam: A lorry with Bhatukamma sarees on way to Bhadradri Kothagudem district from Choutuppal godwon was held by the locals suspecting that the sarees were illegally being transported to the neighbouring State in early hours in Khammam on Sunday.

After learning about the incident, leaders of various political parties and Returning Officer of Khammam constituency, J Srinivas Rao inspected the lorry loaded with the bundles of Bathukamma sarees and after examining the receipt cleared the doubts of the leaders. 

He informed that the sarees belonged to Telangana State Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society Limited and were transported to Bhadradri Kothagudem district.

He said that receiving the information, the Divisional Engineer Arjun along with flying squad in a tip off reached the spot along with the videographer and seized the vehicle on the allegation made by political party leaders by sending the lorry to the Khanapuram police station. The bundles were unloaded from the lorry under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Venkatrao in front of the leaders of various political leaders.

He also said that after observing the total bundles in the lorry and checking the vehicle perfectly it became evident that the receipt shown by the lorry drivers matched with number of sarees and there were no other materials other than sarees in the lorry as suspected by the leaders of various political parties.

Later, all the Bhatukamma sarees which belongs to TS Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society Limited are loaded into the lorry for transporting them to Bhadradri Kothagudem district, he added.

However, the doubt in the minds of the people and the political leaders arose why the Bathukamma sarees that meant to be distributed among the women on the occasion of Bathukamma festival were being transported now. 

It needs to be mentioned here that the TRS-lead State had already placed orders for the sarees to be distributed on the occasion of Bathukamma festival. However, since the announcement of the election schedule and with the model code of conduct being in effect, the Congress party had complained to the Election Commission against the State government’s programme of distribution of sarees among women during the Bathukamma festival. 

Acting on the complaint of Congress, the Election Commission did not allow the State government to go forward with the programme. While the Congress welcomed the EC’s order, the TRS cried foul. 

Now, when the truck-laden with Bathukamma sarees are found, the question in the political circle is being asked the timing of the transportation of sarees. Though the officials have given green signals to the truck, since it has all valid papers, the question remains that for whom the sarees were transported.