A day-long Holi celebration attended by Bengal minister of state Bachchu Hansda who danced to Bollywoood tunes at Tapan in South Dinajpur on Tuesday came under scanner as the organisers flouted the ban on loudhailers in the wake of coming higher secondary exams.

Hansda is the local MLA and the celebration was organised on the BDO office’s premises.

Ahead of Holi, the state had announced a complete prohibition on the use of microphones and loudspeakers, keeping in mind the HS exams which would commence from Thursday.

Hundreds gathered for the celebration and greeted each other. The crowd went into merry-making and danced and pranced as DJs played foot-tapping numbers.

As Hansda joined the celebrations organised by the Tapan Utsav Committee with his family and danced to the tunes, a video showing him at the venue went viral in social media.

Raju Das, the sabhapati of the of Tapan panchayat samiti, and BDO Chogel Moktan Tamang were present at the event.

“Many people who attended the event were surprised to see the loudspeakers and the DJs. They had later asked why the minister had encouraged the organisers to continue playing the music, instead of asking them to stop it immediately,” said a local resident.

District BJP leader Nilanjan Roy said: “It was a blatant violation of the prohibition on loudspeakers. Trinamul leaders and a minister broke the rule.”

“Such actions by ministers and local leaders only encourage Trinamul workers to indulge in similar practices,” he added.

The minister, however, said: “The event was held on the BDO office campus in Tapan where I accompanied others and danced with them. I have no idea who complained about playing the music. I don’t think it inconvenienced anyone.”

The BDO could not be contacted over phone.

Nikhil Nirmal, the district magistrate, however, said he was looking into the incident.

“I have sought a report from the BDO,” he said.