Revanth’s proposal for hate speech bill is hypocritical: BJP in Telangana

The Telangana BJP Sunday came down heavily on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for announcing that the state government will soon bring a bill against hate speeches in line with Karnataka. Stating that the hypocrisy was appalling, BJP state president N Ramchander Rao accused the Chief Minister of making divisive statements during elections to polarise votes.

Another BJP leader and Union minister of Coal, G Kishan Reddy, also wrote an open letter to the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi and slammed the High Command for failing to conduct a review of the implementation of the party’s manifesto in Telangana.

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At a state government-organised programme for Christian minorities ahead of Christmas, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had announced that his government would soon bring in an anti-hate speech legislation, claiming that everyone should have the freedom to follow his or her religion. He also promised the minorities that their rights would be protected.

Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao called the Chief Minister’s claims absurd. He said, “Mr Revanth Reddy made a statement that he is going to bring a bill against hate speech. It is very surprising because he himself actually provoked the people on the communal line. During the last Jubilee Hills byelections, he said Muslims are Congress, and Congress is Muslims. He was polarising for Muslim votes. He was playing divisive politics, and today he wants to bring a bill against hate speech!”

Union Minister Kishan Reddy also slammed the Congress government in Telangana for taking the people for a ride over poll promises. In an open letter to Sonia Gandhi, he alleged, “Instead of honouring the commitments given during the elections, the Telangana government appears to be misleading the people. Under the guise of development, it has attempted to introduce a new narrative through a vision document while the earlier guarantees remain unaddressed. Shockingly, the party leadership seems content to congratulate itself rather than demand accountability.”

Criticising the central leadership of the Congress, particularly the Gandhi family, Reddy stated,
“During this period, have you ever reviewed or enquired about the status of the manifesto that you, along with Shri Rahul Gandhi, Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the Congress party promised to the people of Telangana? Did you even raise this issue when the chief minister met you recently?”