‘Will bring law to punish those who insult other religions’: Revanth Reddy at Christmas event

The new law would aim to “stamp out religious hatred and punish those who insult other religions,” the CM said, adding everyone should respect religions other than their own. The existing laws would also be amended to ensure stringent punishment for those who abuse other religions, Reddy said, adding that the government had already “dealt with those who spread religious hatred and attacks”.

The CM said his government would “provide equal respect to all religions”. “Minorities deserve to avail all welfare scheme benefits and indeed it is their right,” he told the audience.

Reddy’s statements came a couple of weeks after he courted controversy over his remarks on Hindu gods, made at an executive meeting of the Congress in Hyderabad. “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? 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),” Reddy said, triggering backlash from the Congress.

CM’s message

The CM on Saturday assured that the pending “graveyard constraints” of Christians and Muslims would be addressed soon. Hyderabad has been reeling under less space for burials as mandated in these faiths.

Extending greetings to Christians on the eve of Christmas,  the CM said Jesus Christ propagated the importance of the service to mankind and spread the message of love and peace. “Jesus Christ gave a strong message to humanity that we should love even those who hate us,” Reddy said. He said December is a ‘miracle month’ for Telangana as Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi was born in this month and she “granted separate statehood to Telangana in this month”.

Reddy said the Congress government was working on the inspiration of Christ’s teachings and was implementing welfare schemes against all odds. “Christian missionaries gave priority to education and medical care and provided them to the poor. The missionaries competed with the government with dedication in providing education and medical facilities to the poor,” he said.

Reddy said the state would move forward in accordance with the “Telangana Rising 2047” vision document and ensure that all communities reap the benefits of a $3 trillion economy in the state.