Bandi Sanjay Kumar (left), Revnath Reddy (agecnies)
NEW DELHI: Union minister of state for home affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, on Friday accused the Congress Party(INC) of “appeasement politics” ahead of the November 11 by-poll in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency in Telangana, claiming that some 80 per cent of Hindus in the segment are rallying behind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reported PTI.Addressing the media, he demanded a probe into the death of former legislator Maganti Gopinath, saying the deceased’s mother described it as a “mystery”. He also alleged that the Congress in Telangana has become the “Indian Muslim Congress (IMC)”. The BJP leader claimed the INC and the All India Majlis e Ittehad ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are colluding, and that the ruling party in the state is pandering to Muslim voters. “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.”He went on to add, “they (Congress) are desperate to garner votes of a particular section. The majority voters, 80 per cent Hindus are going to become vote bank in favour of BJP.”Sanjay took aim at the state chief minister Revanth Reddy and said, “If a day comes when I must wear a skull cap for votes, I’d rather cut off my head. I’m an unapologetic Hindu – I won’t insult other faiths by faking a namaz.”He alleged that Reddy and the Congress candidate wore skull caps for the purpose of seeking votes, while pointing out that AIMIM leadership had never reportedly done so.He further questioned, “does (the CM) have the courage to ask Asaduddin Owaisi to chant ‘Vakratunda Mahakaya’? Or take (his brother) Akbaruddin (Owaisi) to Bhagya Lakshmi temple and make him sing a song for Ammavaru to win Hindu votes?”Sanjay further urged the Hindu community in the constituency to consolidate their votes: “We don’t care about these fake surveys. If they’re so confident, why did they try to stop my rally? This is the time for us to stand united.”The by-poll in Jubilee Hills was necessitated by the death of three-time MLA Maganti Gopinath of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The INC has fielded V Naveen Yadav, the BRS has nominated Sunitha (Gopinath’s widow), and the BJP has put up Lankala Deepak Reddy.Sanjay also alleged that the BRS has been sidelined as Muslim voters shift to the Congress and that the contest is effectively between the BJP and what he called the “Indian Muslim Congress (IMC)”.The elections are slated for November 11, and counting will take place on November 14.(With inputs from agencies)
