In the run-up to the crucial Jubilee Hills bypoll, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has chosen a deeply controversial political script — questioning the Indian Army’s recent Operation Sindoor, a successful counter-terror action across the border that the nation widely saluted.
Linking national security with local electoral arithmetic is dangerous territory. But to many observers, this criticism appears tailored to influence a specific vote bank ahead of the bypoll. Political strategies may vary — but targeting the armed forces should never be one of them.
Every political party seeks support from various communities. That’s democracy.
But disparaging the military, especially while soldiers defend the nation, crosses a red line for every Indian — Hindu, Muslim or otherwise.
Minority citizens who proudly identify as nationalists have every reason to ask:
- Why should their votes be taken for granted based on divisive remarks?
- Why should political leaders undermine the morale of soldiers for electoral gain?
Criticism of the government is healthy. Undermining the armed forces’ capability is reckless.
The Congress government in Telangana is under pressure — internally and electorally. The Jubilee Hills result will decide not just a seat, but Revanth Reddy’s authority within his party. A negative result could embolden those who have not fully accepted his rise to power.
But pressure cannot justify political adventurism with national security.
This isn’t the first time controversy struck:
- The proposal involving defence land for a community graveyard drew institutional resistance.
- Now, comments on Operation Sindoor have sparked anger among veterans and citizens alike.
In politics, disrespecting the uniform is not a show of boldness — it is a sign of desperation.
Both Congress and BRS are aggressively chasing minority votes in Hyderabad.
But the electorate — including minorities who have contributed enormously to national progress — are not mere pawns in a communal game.
And the majority Hindu voters too will be watching closely:
- Will they approve of a campaign narrative that belittles India’s defenders?
- Will they reward statements that echo the bitterness of pre-Independence polarization?
Jubilee Hills is not a battlefield for divisive politics — it is a sophisticated urban constituency that understands national interest.
India’s political discourse has space for fierce debate. But there can be no space for undermining soldiers who risk their lives so that elections can even take place.
The question now is simple: Will Jubilee Hills voters endorse a campaign that questions India’s military? Or will they choose to send a message that national pride is not up for negotiation?
In this bypoll, the ballot may well become a referendum on whether politics can go so far as to challenge the very protectors of our sovereignty.
