'Do Not Divide The Nation': Rijiju Targets Revanth Reddy Over Remarks

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticised Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over his recent remarks linking HYDRAA to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler , accusing him of using divisive rhetoric that undermines national unity .

Reacting to the Chief Minister's comments, Rijiju said political criticism is a normal feature of democracy, but repeatedly resorting to provocative and region-based narratives weakens the country's democratic fabric rather than strengthening it. In a post on X, he questioned the Congress leader's public admiration for Hitler as a source of inspiration and alleged that opposition parties would have reacted very differently had a BJP chief minister made similar remarks.

The Union Minister also took exception to Revanth Reddy's observations on regional representation in national leadership. He accused some opposition leaders of attempting to create an artificial North-South divide for political gain and asserted that India's constitutional institutions already reflect the country's diversity.

Highlighting this point, Rijiju noted that the President comes from eastern India, the Prime Minister from western India and the Vice-President from southern India, arguing that these examples demonstrate the inclusive nature of India's democratic system. He urged political leaders not to pursue narratives that could foster regional divisions, emphasising that all citizens are part of one nation.

The controversy stems from remarks made by Revanth Reddy at a media summit in Bengaluru , where he claimed that the term "Hydra" was associated with one of Hitler's operational groups and said that the Telangana government's anti-encroachment task force drew inspiration from the concept. He stated that HYDRAA includes a senior IPS officer and around 3,000 retired Army personnel and questioned whether anyone in the state would now dare to encroach upon water bodies.

During the same event, the Chief Minister also raised concerns about what he described as the unequal treatment of southern states despite their contribution to central revenues, questioning why key constitutional posts were largely occupied by leaders from northern India.

Meanwhile, HYDRAA's functioning remains under judicial scrutiny . The Telangana High Court has expressed concern over demolition drives allegedly carried out without prior show-cause notices and has directed authorities to follow due process before undertaking coercive action. The court has also instructed officials to respect existing stay orders while clarifying that encroachments on public roads, drains and water bodies may still be removed in accordance with the law.

With political leaders trading sharp remarks and legal questions surrounding HYDRAA continuing to be examined, the issue has emerged as a significant political flashpoint in Telangana .