As India braces for potential military retaliation against Pakistan following the brutal massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, the Telangana government is rolling out the red carpet for the Miss World 2024 pageant. Slated for May 31 in Hyderabad, the 72nd edition of the global beauty contest is being projected as a grand showcase of Indian culture and hospitality. But the timing could not be more jarring.
Contestants from around the world—Portugal, Ghana, Ireland among the first—are already arriving to a city gearing up for heritage walks, temple visits, and cultural performances. Meanwhile, across the country, military preparations are underway. Intelligence inputs suggest that India’s response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism may not remain confined to diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unequivocally stated that “pain will be inflicted” on the perpetrators.
In such a climate, where every Indian household is on edge, should a glitzy beauty pageant really be our top priority?
The optics are troubling. Even if the state government insists it is spending only ₹27 crore and not the ₹200 crore alleged by the Opposition, that’s still ₹27 crore from an exchequer that’s struggling to meet even essential commitments. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy himself has publicly admitted that Telangana is in no position to launch new infrastructure projects, and is barely able to pay salaries and pensions. Outsourcing has been halted. Retired staff at the Sports Authority of Telangana haven’t received payments on time.
In this context, the criticism by the principal Opposition party, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), carries weight. K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) rightly questions the logic of pouring crores into a beauty pageant while farmers across Telangana are dying by suicide due to water shortages and debt. “How does Miss World generate jobs or revenue?” he asked in the Assembly—an uncomfortable but essential question.
Even beyond economics, there’s the matter of national morale. At a time when the nation is preparing for possible conflict, the state appears disconnected from ground realities. The Congress-led Telangana government seems eager to flaunt a progressive, international image even as India’s security establishment gears up for potential escalation. While New Delhi revokes the Indus Waters Treaty and shuts down trade with Pakistan, Hyderabad is hosting catwalks and choreography.
This isn’t about opposing cultural events or tourism promotion. It’s about timing, sensitivity, and national priorities. A state that cannot pay pensions or irrigate its fields has no business funding global glamour shows. A country that is days—or even hours—away from potential military action cannot afford mixed signals. Hosting a beauty pageant in such times, however “prestigious,” borders on tone-deafness.
Furthermore, the government’s argument that the pageant will boost Telangana’s image rings hollow when the cost-benefit analysis remains fuzzy. Will the event bring long-term investments? Will it create employment for the lakhs of youth struggling in the state? Or is it merely a spectacle for elites while the common citizen bears the brunt of economic distress and national insecurity?
The double standards are also glaring. The Congress had previously opposed the long-term lease of the Outer Ring Road under the BRS regime, calling it a betrayal of public interest. Now, the same party is defending the leasing of public lands and assets for up to 99 years under the guise of tourism development. Hypocrisy, it seems, is bipartisan.
India is a democracy strong enough to host celebrations even in difficult times. But wisdom lies in knowing when to pause. Postpone, not cancel. Prioritize, not posture. With war clouds looming and economic challenges mounting, Telangana must rise above vanity projects. National interest isn’t just New Delhi’s business—it’s every state’s responsibility.
The Revanth Reddy government should reflect seriously: When a nation mourns its dead and prepares for potential conflict, the last thing it needs is a global beauty pageant hogging headlines. Dignity, not distraction, is what India needs now. (The author is former Asst Editor, Deccan Chronicle, and a veteran political analyst)
