'Echoing Rahul Gandhi's language': BJP fumes at Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's Hitler inspiration claim

NEW DELHI: Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy has triggered a massive backlash from the BJP after invoking German dictator Adolf Hitler while explaining the name of his task force, HYDRAA. The BJP slammed the Congress leader, accusing him of "echoing Rahul Gandhi's language."

Speaking at an event, Reddy claimed that HYDRAA was inspired by a term associated with Hitler. He said "Hydra" was Hitler's favourite word and alleged that Adolf Hitler's core team was called Hydra, describing it as an assassination squad.

The remarks sparked sharp criticism from the saffron party.

The BJP alleged that the Congress party's "dangerous Hitler mindset" was on display through the Telangana chief minister's comments.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Reddy over remarks that he said risked creating regional divisions and drew inappropriate comparisons with Adolf Hitler.

Rijiju argued that such rhetoric was deeply divisive and inconsistent with the functioning of India's democratic system. He also suggested that if a BJP leader had made similar remarks, it would have triggered widespread criticism and accusations of authoritarianism.

While acknowledging that political criticism is a fundamental part of democracy, Rijiju said the repeated use of inflammatory language undermines national unity rather than strengthening democratic debate.

"Waah... The Congress Chief Minister is absolutely inspired by Adolf Hitler! Imagine.... if a BJP Chief Minister said the same thing, the whole ecosystem would be screaming Nazism, Fascism and what not," Rijiju said through a post on X.

BJP leader G Kishan Reddy shared a video of Revanth Reddy's remarks and wrote on X: "Revanth Reddy, now openly boasting that Hitler inspired him to create HYDRAA and comparing his demolitions in Hyderabad to those in war-torn countries like Iran and Israel, is echoing his leader Rahul Gandhi's language."



He further added: "From the Emergency to Hitler, Congress has always muzzled people. Revanth Reddy needs to hang his head in shame and tender an unconditional apology to the people of Telangana."