Telangana Congress leaders face legal action over caged bird display at festival

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief B. Mahesh Kumar Goud and local party figures are facing a legal case after displaying a caged Indian Roller bird during Dasara celebrations in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The Incident

During a public gathering at the Uppal Municipal Stadium, Mr. Goud held up a caged palapitta bird for the crowd before setting it free while loud announcements played over a megaphone. Former Uppal corporator Rajitha Parameshwar Reddy and her husband M. Parameshwar Reddy were present on stage, with Mr. Parameshwar Reddy later sharing photographs of the event on social media to claim responsibility for organising the festivities.

Action Taken

A social media group named Forests And Wildlife Protection Society highlighted the video clip online and called on state forest authorities to launch a thorough investigation and penalise those involved. Following the alert, district forest officers in Medchal Malkajgiri registered an official case against the organisers, including Mr. Parameshwar Reddy, under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Context

Catching and displaying this specific bird during the autumn festival is traditionally believed to bring good luck in the region, which unfortunately drives an illegal trade in capturing wild birds for quick profit. Indian Roller birds are protected under strict wildlife conservation laws in the country, making any form of captivity or illegal handling a punishable offense.