Controversy Erupts Over Telangana CM's Remarks on Hindu Deities

Political Controversy in Telangana

A significant controversy has emerged in Telangana following comments made by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy during a Congress meeting in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Reddy drew parallels between the diversity of the Congress party and the variety found within Hinduism, stating that the party embraces individuals from all backgrounds.

According to reports, he remarked, “Some individuals choose to worship Lord Venkateswara, while others prefer Lord Hanuman. We could not agree on which deities to worship; how can we expect to reach a consensus on political leaders and District Congress Committee presidents?”

He further elaborated, “How many gods do Hindus have? Is it three crore? There is Hanuman for the unmarried, and another deity for those who marry multiple times. Certain gods are honored with toddy and non-vegetarian dishes during specific occasions, while others are associated with simple meals like dal-chawal.”

Reddy continued, “Just as Hinduism accommodates various gods for different mentalities, the Congress party also welcomes diverse viewpoints.”

In response, BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar accused Reddy of disrespecting Hindus and their deities.

Kumar claimed on social media that the Congress party has historically yielded to the AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) and suggested that Reddy's comments reveal a biased mindset.

He asserted, “The Congress party harbors deep-seated animosity towards Hindus,” and accused the Bharat Rashtra Samithi of consistently belittling Hindu gods and culture.

Kumar added, “This is why we cautioned during the Jubilee Hills bye-election that if Congress or BRS were to win, Hindus would lose their dignity. The CM’s recent remarks validate our concerns.”

After the backlash, Reddy clarified that his statements had been misinterpreted for political advantage.

He explained, “I told party members that just as there are numerous gods with distinct identities and symbols, the Congress party also comprises various leaders and perspectives. We must collaborate.”

Reddy criticized the BJP for unnecessarily escalating the situation following their recent losses in local elections.

The BJP's Telangana chief, N Ramchander Rao, labeled Reddy's comments as yet another affront to Hindus by the Congress party.

Rao demanded an unconditional apology from the chief minister for allegedly offending religious sentiments.

Several BRS leaders also called for an apology from Reddy for his remarks, which they deemed hurtful to Hindus.

In defense of Reddy, Congress’ Telangana chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud stated that the chief minister had not made any inappropriate comments.

Goud remarked, “He shared Telugu proverbs in a light-hearted manner. The CM and the Congress party hold all religions in high regard.”