Khammam: Revenue, Housing, and Information Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy attended the 286th birth anniversary celebrations of Sant Sevalal at Kusumanchi on Monday. He was warmly felicitated by Lambadi leaders during the event.
Speaking at the gathering, Ponguleti praised the Lambadi community, saying, “Lambadi means Congress, and Congress means Lambadi.” He credited them for his huge victory in the last elections. He also reminded everyone that the Congress party was responsible for including Lambadis in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.
Ponguleti described Sant Sevalal as the idol of the Banjara community. He said Sevalal was a visionary leader who worked to instill pride in Hindu traditions among the Banjaras. He also mentioned that the Telangana government officially declared February 15 a holiday in 2024 to honor Sevalal’s birth anniversary.
He further praised Sevalal Maharaj as a role model not just for Banjaras but for everyone. He highlighted Sevalal’s teachings against violence, alcohol, and smoking. Ponguleti also spoke about how Sevalal fought to protect Banjara dignity and tribal rights during British rule. He emphasized that Sevalal’s principles of non-violence and social justice continue to inspire tribal movements today.
The minister assured that the government is committed to respecting tribal traditions. He reiterated that Sevalal Jayanti will be officially celebrated every year as a tribute to the community.
