Opposition parties responded swiftly. Bharatiya Janata Party in Telangana described Reddy’s words as a deliberate insult to Hindu faith and announced plans for statewide protests. The party’s state unit labelled the comments an illustration of what it called the “inherent Hinduphobic DNA” of the governing party, and demanded an immediate public apology.
Leaders of Bharat Rashtra Samithi also weighed in, calling the remarks provocative and insensitive. A BRS official questioned whether Reddy's remarks were part of a political strategy aimed at offending religious sentiments, urging him to withdraw his statement and apologise for what they described as blatant disrespect to religious traditions.
Reddy’s remarks come just months after earlier comments had stirred controversy, when he criticised the use of religious imagery in political campaigning. During an event in Armoor, he had said that those “seeking something with a photo of a god was a beggar, not a Hindu,” arguing that true devotion lies in one’s heart rather than external displays. That comment had triggered backlash from BJP cadres who accused him of denigrating religious sentiment.
Supporters of Reddy say his remarks were part of a broader attempt to highlight diversity and social dynamics within his political party. According to them, the analogy intended to stress that people from different social backgrounds, castes, and lifestyles harbor different beliefs and that political representation should reflect that plurality. However, critics argue that such analogies trivialise deeply held spiritual beliefs and risk offending a large section of the population that regards the multiplicity of deities as sacred.
Religious organisations have already dispatched memos of protest and some caste-based associations in Telangana have called for a review of Reddy’s public remarks. Legal experts have noted that while right to free speech is constitutionally protected, public leaders bear a responsibility to avoid statements likely to inflame religious sentiment and undermine social harmony.
With tensions surging across social media and in public discourse, pressure is mounting on Reddy and his party’s leadership to clarify or retract the remarks. As of now, no apology has been issued from the Chief Minister’s office, and the unfolding reaction suggests the controversy could influence political dynamics in Telangana ahead of upcoming elections.