Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu might be trying to tap the Hindu vote bank by taking up the issue of the recent attacks on Hindu temples.
But in the process, Naidu is attacking Christians in an attempt to project YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy as anti-Hindu. His party leaders, too, are harping too much on the Christian faith of Jagan and his family members.
The other day, Naidu openly said Jagan being a Christian had failed to prevent the attacks on temples, idols and Hindu dharma. He alleged that Jagan was misusing his position to promote conversions.
“Not just Christians, the Hindus and the Muslims also have their own sentiments. Everybody is entitled under the Constitution to their own faith and belief,” he said.
He pointed out that a deputy chief minister offered Christmas greetings at the Tirumala temple and Christmas celebrations were held at the police station itself.
“The CM has taken an oath holding Bible during the swearing-in ceremony,” he said.
Naidu also found fault with payment of Rs 5,000 honorarium to Christian pastors, though they were SCs and enjoying reservations.
“The government cannot give honorarium to them. A close vigil should be placed on the new churches coming up in villages and who were behind them,” Naidu said.
All these comments clearly established that Naidu is toeing the line of Hindutva and opposing Christianity.
“This is going to prove costly for the TDP in the coming days, as he distanced himself from other communities with his pro-Hindu remarks,” former MP G V Harsh Kumar said.
He said the attacks on temples was the conspiracy of the BJP and YSR Congress party.
“Yet, Naidu chose to project that it was the handiwork of Christians. This will result in consolidation of vote bank of the BJP and the YSRC and the ultimate loser would be Naidu,” Harsh Kumar said.
