Hyderabad, May 6 (IANS) Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders has criticised the State Endowments Minister Konda Surekha for her allegedly insulting remarks against Lord Ram even as the Minister claimed that her comments were distorted.

The Minister said on Tuesday in a statement that some individuals were distorting and circulating the remarks she made on the occasion of the Farmers’ Mega Mela held at Warangal.

She clarified that the true intent of her remarks was to question the Central government and the State BJP leadership for showing negligence toward the development of temples in Telangana while allocating funds to other states and discriminating against Telangana.

The Congress leader said that as the Endowments Minister she was working with complete dedication.

She added that the state government allocated thousands of crores of rupees for the development of temples across Telangana.

Minister Surekha’s clarification came after BJP’s Telangana unit lashed out at her.

The BJP said that Konda Surekha is not the Endowments Minister but the God-insulting department Minister.

Alleging that Minister Surekha ridiculed Lord Ram, the BJP added that she had absolutely no moral right to continue as the Endowments Minister.

The party demanded the Minister to immediately and unconditionally apologise to Hindu society.

“Arrogant remarks by Minister Konda Surekha against Lord Ram! — By comparing the chant of ‘Jai Sri Ram’ to coins, she has spat venom on the sentiments of crores of Hindus. These arrogant words are a living testament to the Congress Party’s disdainful attitude towards Hindu gods. It is a grave tragedy that, serving as Minister for the sacred Endowments Department, she has insulted God Himself. Insulting Hindu gods for the sake of vote-bank politics is the true nature of Congress leaders,” a post from the official account of Telangana BJP on X.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar also criticised Minister Surekha for her alleged remarks.

“Attacking Hindutva isn’t a free pass anymore. Hindus are responding, and the pushback is visible in outcome of recent elections. Dharma finds its way,” the BJP leader said in a post on X.

“Sabarimala gold theft – Pinarayi Vijayan, “Eradicate Sanatana Dharma” row – Stalin, “Gandha dharm/Mrityu Kumbh” remarks – Mamata Banerjee, Tirumala row – Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, “Hindu bondhu” jibe – K. Chandrashekar Rao. Every time faith becomes a political punchline, voters seem to answer in their own way. Now if a Telangana Congress Minister links “Jai Shri Ram” to money… the trend is already visible on what follows,” Bandi Sanjay said.

–IANS

ms/khz