Giving a political twist to Makara Sankranthi festivities, TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday burnt copies of some Andhra Pradesh government orders in a 'Bhogi' bonfire.
"Naidu participated in 'Bhogi' event at Paritala in Krishna district. He joined the local residents who burned draconian, anti-people, and anti-farmers orders issued by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government," said a Telugu Desam Party statement.
The Government Orders which were burnt were related to fixing meters to pump set motors, zero-interest loans scheme, zero budget farming and selection of farmers for welfare schemes on basis of caste.
The customary event to burn old wood on 'Bhogi', which symbolises burning of the old and ringing in the new, was shared on social media in the early hours of Wednesday.
A large number of TDP activists were in attendance at the event as Naidu was welcomed by some priests. Joining TDP supporters, Naidu also tossed order copies into the fire.
The TDP supremo later alleged that people could not celebrate Sankranthi, the biggest Hindu festival in Telugu culture last year because of the news about trifurcation of the state capital.
"After a series of cyclones, heavy rains and floods, farmers suffered losses but the government did not rescue them, taking the sheen off Sankranthi celebrations this time also," claimed Naidu.
The former Chief Minister alleged that the festivities suffered this fate for two years as the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) was in power.
"As rulers do not have the resolve that people should be happy, these kinds of things are happening. I wish prosperity to farmers this year and extend my Bhogi greetings," he added.