Saffron tints TD’s yellow
Naidu harps on Hindutva agenda to restrain BJP from relegating TD
Saffron and yellow parties are competing with one another by whipping up Hindutva sentiments in Andhra Pradesh.
Telugu Desam, which has always projected its secular credentials, is gradually shedding the secular veil and donning the role of ‘Hindutva’ protector, which gets evidenced from the scathing attacks against the YSR Congress and accusing it of promoting religious conversions.
The state’s main Opposition party started an agitation against desecration and attacks on temples six months ago but the party never portrayed YSRC as a Christian party. However, now the TD has been openly terming Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, home minister Mekathoti Sucharita, and DGP Gautam Sawang as Christians who are unable to protect temples. Going a step further, they are alleging that the ruling party is into promotion of religious conversions.
Similarly, the BJP Telangana state president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar, while claiming that BJP was Bhagavad Gita party, stated that YSRC was a Bible party.
Senior political analysts state that as both TD and BJP are eyeing the Tirupati Lok Sabha seat in the by-election, they started communal politics. They said that as
● NOTICING THAT Christians are supporting the ruling party, TD has raked up the issue of Christian conversions. To attract the majority Hindu votes, TD is whipping Hindutva sentiments, which they hope to take advantage of in the Tirupati byelection.
BJP is aiming to emerge as the second biggest party after YSRC, TD is hijacking Hindutva agenda in order to win over the electorate.
They recalled that TD swiftly responded to the Ramateertham temple idol damage issue and its chief N. Chandrababu Naidu not only visited the temple but also took out a rally and staged protest ahead of the BJP, which responded a day later.
Analysts opine that for the past 18 months, TD’s attempts to make amends with BJP were all in vain. In order to salvage prestige and not to lose out to BJP, Naidu is harping on Hindutva agenda to restrain the saffron party from relegating TD. Many point out that the traditional BC vote bank of TD has had a change and many are pitching for YSRC. Noticing that Christians are supporting the ruling party, TD has raked up the issue of Christian conversions. To attract the majority Hindu votes, TD is whipping Hindutva sentiments, which they hope to take advantage of in the Tirupati by-election.
In a first for the party, it had Hindutva issue in the agenda of the politburo meeting. It decided to continue its fight for the protection of temples and religion donning the role of ‘Hindutva saviour’.
Meanwhile, YSRC ministers, Vellampalli Srinivas Rao, Kodali Srivenkateswara Rao, and Perni Venkataramaiah allege that Naidu, who had no faith in God and religion, is changing his colours for political gains. They said that for the first time, TD has brought religion into politics but the people would not tolerate such unhealthy politics and would teach a befitting lesson to both TD and BJP.