Hyderabad: Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday accused the ruling Congress and the BRS of indulging in Muslim appeasement and urged Hindus to vote for the BJP, saying it is the only party that safeguards Hindu dharma.
Campaigning here for the November 11 Jubilee Hills bypoll, Kumar said under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s leadership, the Indian National Congress (INC) has become the Indian Muslim Congress (IMC) in Telangana. He appealed to Hindus to form a “single vote-bank”.
“The name of Congress has changed in Telangana. It (bypoll) should be a one-sided fight, and Hindus should win here. Should Hindus of Jubilee Hills lead a life of pleading or should they proudly say, ‘I am a Hindu’? I am not provoking… I am speaking the facts as the chief minister himself has said that the contest is between Hindus and Muslims,” Kumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, “The Chief Minister is not speaking in a way that is befitting his stature. He says Congress means Muslims, and Muslims mean Congress. He also made comments insulting the jawans as if he is encouraging Pakistan.”
Charging the Congress with indulging in vote bank politics, he said, “They (Congress) are desperate to garner votes of a particular section. The majority voters, 80 per cent Hindus, are going to become a vote bank in favour of the BJP.”
Taking a dig at the ruling Congress, Kumar said the contest in Jubille Hills constituency is between the BJP and ‘Indian Muslim Congress (IMC)’.
The election atmosphere is turning in favour of the BJP, he added.
He claimed that the BRS is out of the race as Muslim voters are shifting towards the Congress, and the party is facing pubic anger over its 10-year rule.
On AIMIM’s support to the Congress in the bypoll, Sanjay Kumar said the Congress victory means the AIMIM’s victory.
He also alleged that a dispute has arisen between CM Revanth Reddy and BRS Working President K T Rama Rao over the properties of Gopinath.
