Bandi Sanjay Slams Revanth Reddy Over Remarks On Owaisi Brothers’ Patriotism

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has launched a sharp attack on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over his remarks describing AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother, MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, as patriots no less than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Taking to X on Friday, Sanjay questioned the basis on which the Owaisi brothers were being portrayed as symbols of patriotism, citing several of their past political positions and statements.

Sanjay asked whether walking out while ‘Vande Mataram’ was being sung, opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and criticising the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) could be considered examples of patriotism. He also alleged that Owaisi and AIMIM legislators had walked out during the national song in the Assembly.

The Union minister further invoked a 2013 speech by Akbaruddin Owaisi, referring to his controversial remarks about the time it would allegedly take to alter the demographic balance between Hindus and Muslims if police forces were removed. Sanjay questioned whether such statements could also be included in the definition of patriotism and shared a video related to the issue on his X account.

He also accused the Owaisi brothers of repeatedly attacking national security policies and making critical remarks about Hindu deities. Sanjay said that instead of addressing allegations concerning organisations associated with the Owaisi family and claims relating to encroachment of lake lands, Revanth Reddy was issuing them “certificates” of patriotism.

Sanjay also brought up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s earlier allegation that AIMIM was the BJP’s “B-team”, asking Revanth Reddy to first explain his position to his own party leader. “Was Rahul Gandhi wrong about AIMIM?” he asked.

The Union minister said Telangana voters had watched the Owaisi brothers’ political activities and public statements for decades and that one certificate from the Chief Minister could not erase that record.

He ended his remarks with sarcasm, congratulating the Owaisi brothers and offering “special congratulations” to Rahul Gandhi, saying that Revanth Reddy had ultimately “corrected” his own party leader.

Revanth Reddy had made his comments on Thursday, triggering the political confrontation with the BJP leader.