Hyderabad, Oct. 21 -- Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Mahesh Kumar Goud is facing criticism after a video showed him releasing a caged Palapitta, the Indian Roller and Telangana's state bird, at a Dasara celebration in Uppal, Hyderabad. The forest department and the Hyderabad Police Commissioner had warned against using the bird in festival rituals.

The video, from the event, shows the caged bird being brought to the stage before Goud set it free. He was attending the Ravana Dahan programme held on a large scale in Uppal along with his wife.

Congress leaders who took part in the programme included Uppal constituency in-charge Parameshwar Reddy, District Congress Committee...