Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has courted controversy over his remarks on Hindu gods, made at an executive meeting of the Congress party held in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
“The Congress takes along all types of individuals. Some say they will worship Lord Venkteswara others say they will worship Lord Hanuman. We could not reach consensus on which gods to worship; how will we reach consensus on political leaders and DCC (District Congress Committee) presidents?” Reddy said. “How many Gods are there for Hindus. Three crore? There is Hanuman for those who are not married. There is another god for those who marry twice. There are gods to whom toddy and non-vegetarian food are served during certain events and there are gods for those who eat dal-chawal (vegetarians).”
The first to react was Union Minister for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who also hails from Telangana. “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 on X.
He added, “This 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 CM’s latest comments prove BJP was right. 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?”
BJP state president G Ramachandra Rao said the party will hold protests against the CM’s statement in the coming week. “We demand an unconditional apology,” Rao said.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also condemned the statement, with several leaders demanding that the CM retract it and apologise for hurting the sentiments of Hindus across the state.
Responding to the controversy, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president B Mahesh Kumar Goud told The Indian Express, “The CM has said nothing wrong. He shared Telugu adages in a lighter vein. The CM and the Congress party respect all religions.”
Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice.
Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include:
Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India.
Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism.
Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities.
National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting.
Authoritativeness & Trust
A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society.
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