Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s lighthearted remarks about three crore Hindu deities have triggered a political storm, with the BJP and BRS accusing him of insulting Hindu sentiments.
The comments were made during a Congress party executive meeting. While speaking to the gathering, the Chief Minister introduced what he described as a casual observation about the diversity of Hindu worship.
In the quote that has now gone viral, Reddy said, “How 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. There are all kinds of deities.”
Once the remarks surfaced through internal accounts, opposition parties reacted sharply. The BJP accused Reddy of mocking Hindu traditions and beliefs, calling the comments disrespectful and irresponsible.
Union minister and former Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar issued a strong statement online. He alleged that the Congress harbours hostility towards Hindus and said the Chief Minister’s comments reflect that mindset.
“I 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,” he wrote.
He added that the BJP had previously warned that a Congress or BRS victory would make it difficult for Hindus to live with dignity in Telangana. “The Chief Minister’s latest comments prove BJP was right,” he said.
Bandi Sanjay also appealed directly to Hindu voters. “The 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?” he said.
The BJP state chief G Ramchandra Rao has called for statewide protests, demanding an unconditional apology from the Chief Minister and the Congress government. Protests are expected to intensify across Telangana in the coming days.
The BRS has also joined the criticism. Several of its leaders have asked Reddy to retract the comments immediately and apologise for hurting the sentiments of millions of Hindus in the state.
