Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday for using rhetoric that risks dividing the nation along regional lines, specifically condemning his comparison to Adolf Hitler as deeply divisive and disconnected from modern India's representative democracy.
Rijiju highlighted the irony of such accusations, suggesting that if a leader from the ruling party made similar statements, they would face accusations of “Nazism” and “Fascism” from the political establishment. He stated that while political critique is essential in a democracy, persistent use of inflammatory language undermines national unity.
In a post on X, Rijiju wrote: “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…”
Addressing political discourse focused on “North-South” divides, Rijiju accused some opposition leaders of creating artificial rifts for political gain. He challenged this narrative by emphasising that India's constitutional leadership represents the country's diverse geography and social fabric. He added, “Do not try to divide the nation. We are all Indians. The President is a humble and devoted tribal leader from Odisha, East India; the Prime Minister is a visionary and virtuous leader from Gujarat, West India; and the Vice President is a simple soul from Tamil Nadu, South India.”
The controversy arose after Revanth Reddy sparked significant backlash for remarks made at a media conclave in Bengaluru on Saturday. Reddy stated he was inspired by Hitler when naming Telangana's anti-encroachment task force Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA). He explained: “So I have given HYDRA. HYDRA, the word is Hitler’s favourite word, HYDRA. His core team, called HYDRA who can assassinate anyone. So I have taken inspiration from Hitler, I have named as a HYDRA. I have established the organisation with a senior IPS officer. I have given 3,000 retired army people and others. Today, you ask anyone who can dare to encroach on any water body in my state or in my Hyderabad.”
HYDRA was established by the Telangana government in 2024 to remove illegal encroachments on water bodies and government land.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) immediately condemned Reddy's comments. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy described the remarks as a “dangerous Hitler, Emergency mindset” and called for an unconditional apology from the Congress leadership. On X, he stated: “Congress’ Dangerous Hitler, Emergency Mindset Out In The Open – Yet Again Revanth Reddy, now openly boasting that Hitler inspired him to create HYDRAA and is comparing his demolitions in Hyderabad to those in war-torn countries like Iran and Israel, echoing his leader Rahul Gandhi’s language. From 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.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla linked the comment to a broader pattern of “tanashahi” (authoritarian) behaviour, citing recent crackdowns on journalists and students in Telangana. He said, “In his X post, Revanth Reddy is now openly boasting that Hitler inspired him to create HYDRAA. This is Congress’s tanashahi mindset. From Indira’s Emergency to Revanth’s crackdown on journalists and students.”
Earlier in January, Bharat Rashtra Samithi Working President KT Rama Rao criticised the HYDRA drive in Hyderabad, alleging selective demolitions of poorer residents' houses while sparing illegal constructions linked to influential leaders.
Revanth Reddy had also questioned why the President and Prime Minister are from North India, suggesting Southern states should not exist as “second-grade citizens.” He remarked, “Why? President of India from North India, Prime Minister of India North India? Because of we don’t have strength to show our political strength. So we don’t want to live like second grade citizens in Delhi paying taxes and saluting Delhi.”
The controversy coincides with judicial scrutiny of HYDRAA's functioning. Earlier this year, the Telangana High Court expressed strong disapproval of the agency's demolition activities, describing the situation as “war-like” and ordered a status quo on property disputes.
Justice B Vijaysen Reddy criticised HYDRAA for conducting early-morning and weekend demolitions without providing affected residents with prior show-cause notices. The court mandated that no coercive action shall be taken against unauthorised compound walls or internal roads until HYDRAA submits formal standard operating procedures or guidelines in compliance with municipal laws.
In cases where HYDRAA carried out demolitions despite existing judicial stay orders, the court instructed the agency to undo the damage by immediately reconstructing demolished compound walls, fences, and security gates. While pausing structural demolitions in several housing disputes, the court clarified that HYDRAA may still remove encroachments and restore public roads, nalas, and protected water bodies, provided proper legal procedures are followed.