Hyderabad: Joining the festival revelry, Union Minister for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya on Wednesday participated in kite flying on Necklace Road here. The kite flying programme was organised on the occasion of ‘Sankranti Bhogi’ by Greater Hyderabad BJP unit which was attended by scores of party workers. Speaking on the occasion, Dattatreya extended his wishes to the people of Telangana on Sankranti festival.

He exhorted people of two Telugu-speaking States to strive for development and work together to achieve targets leaving hatred. “We should celebrate festivals with traditional gaiety without giving room for any ill-feelings,” he said. The festival of harvest was noted for spreading love, affection, brotherhood and communal amity among others, he said. “We need to protect our culture,” he added.

Several party leaders, including MLAs Dr Lakshman, Chinthala Ramachandra Reddy, Greater Hyderabad party president Venkat Reddy, senior leaders Baddam Balreddy, Premsingh Rathod, Venkataramana and others participated in the kite flying.