When Sankranti festivities reach a fever pitch, even the words of revered leaders can fall on deaf ears.
That appeared to be the case in Pithapuram, where fans and followers of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan chose to ignore his clear appeal to stay away from cockfights and gambling during the festival.
Pawan Kalyan had urged people; particularly his fans and Jana Sena Party cadres; to celebrate Sankranti responsibly and refrain from participating in banned cockfights. However, his advice was largely disregarded on the ground.
In a brazen show of defiance, cockfights were reportedly organised with great enthusiasm.
What raised further eyebrows was that some Jana Sena supporters went a step further by arranging vulgar dances and displaying flex banners bearing Pawan Kalyan’s image, alongside those of other Jana Sena MLAs, at these events.
The episode has sparked criticism, with many pointing out the stark contrast between the leader’s public stance and the actions of his followers, who appeared to openly cock a snook at his counsel.
