The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday accused the Congress of having “contempt” towards Hindu beliefs and Indian cultural traditions, questioned whether the party had directed its chief ministers to attack Hindu deities and beliefs, and whether it had started pushing an agenda of “eradication of Sanatan Dharma”. At a press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy made “derogatory and objectionable” comments about Hindu deities, which were “unacceptable” and “extremely hurtful to religious sentiments”. He also referred to Mr Reddy’s previous comments allegedly supporting the Muslim community.

Mr Trivedi said, “We have no problem with your whole-hearted support towards the Muslim community. But abusing Hindu deities is intolerable.

” He said no action was taken against an AIMIM leader in Telangana for allegedly using similar “anti-Hindu language”. The BJP leader also accused Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu of saying, “What is the need to say ‘Radhe-Radhe’?” in response to school children who greeted him with “Radhe-Radhe”.

“Why was one Congress chief minister insulting Hindu deities, while another was discouraging children from giving the traditional greeting?” Mr. Trivedi asked.

He said, “One of your alliance partners, the DMK, had organized a structured conference on the abolition of Sanatan Dharma. This was not a mere statement, but a well-planned, well-thought-out, academic conference. In Hindi, it means the complete destruction of Hinduism.

” “So, I want to ask the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, has the Congress started pursuing the program of abolition of Sanatan Dharma, which means the complete destruction of Hinduism, and has it instructed its Chief Ministers to launch a direct attack on Indian culture and the deities of Hinduism?” The BJP leader also asked at whose behest the “agenda” was being carried forward.