A major political controversy has erupted in Telangana after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy made light-hearted remarks about the vast number of Hindu deities and their association with various aspects of life, which opposition parties have branded as an insult to Hindu faith and sentiments.
The comments were made during a Congress party executive committee meeting, where the Chief Minister, while discussing Hinduism in what he described as a โlighter vein,โ said, โHow many deities are there in Hinduism? How many deities? Three crores? Why? For those who are unmarried, there is god Hanuman. For those who are married twice, there is another god. For those who drink, there is another god. Yellamma, Pochamma, Maisamma. For those who demand chicken, there is a god. And for those who eat dal-rice, there is another god, right? There are all kinds of deities.โ
The remarks, initially circulated through internal sources, rapidly went viral on social media, triggering outrage among Hindu organisations and opposition parties.
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https://twitter.com/bandisanjay_bjp/status/1995862360750436709
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the Chief Minister and the Congress party. Union Minister and senior Telangana BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar issued a strongly worded condemnation on social media, stating, โI strongly condemn the comments made by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy insulting Hindus and Hindu deities. The Congress has always been a party that bends before the AIMIM. Revanth Reddy himself said Congress is a Muslim party. That statement alone exposes their mindset. Congress carries deep-rooted hatred towards Hindus.โ
He further added, โThis is exactly why we warned during the Jubilee Hills by-election that if Congress or BRS accidentally won, Hindus would not be able to step out with dignity. The Chief Ministerโs latest comments prove BJP was right.โ
Bandi Sanjay called upon the Hindu community to respond decisively, saying, โThe hatred Congress holds towards Hindus and Hindu gods now stands exposed. It is time for the Hindu community to think seriously. Will you stay divided and continue to endure humiliation, or will you unite and assert your strength?โ
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Taking the protest forward, Telangana BJP state president G Ramchandra Rao announced statewide agitations against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress government, demanding an unconditional apology for the remarks. The party has warned that protests will intensify across the state in the coming days.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also strongly criticised the Chief Minister, with several senior leaders demanding that Revanth Reddy immediately withdraw his statement and tender an unconditional apology for hurting the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus in Telangana and beyond.
As the row escalates, political circles in Hyderabad are closely watching whether the Chief Minister will issue a clarification or apology or choose to stand by his remarks made โin a lighter veinโ.
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