Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar demanded that a criminal case be registered against Congress MLA from Thungathurthy Mandala Samuel for making ‘derogatory remarks’ against Hindu dharma.
Mr. Sanjay accused Mr. Samuel of making disparaging remarks against Hinduism at a Congress party meeting in Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad on Friday.
Speaking to mediapersons before launching his 40-km ‘Anjanna Ashirvada Padayatra’ in Karimnagar on Saturday, Mr. Sanjay alleged that Mr. Samuel made offensive comments against Hindu dharma. He should be barred from contesting elections for trying to vitiate communal amity, Mr. Sanjay said.
He said, “Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy should apologise to Hindu society and expel Mr. Samuel from the party for his provocative remarks.”
Later, Mr. Sanjay began his 40-km padayatra to Kondagattu hill shrine in Jagtial district to fulfill his earlier vow to visit the famous temple dedicated to Lord Anjanna (Hanuman) on foot if the BJP wins the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation.
Scores of BJP leaders and cadres, including Karimnagar Mayor K. Srinivas, Deputy Mayor Y. Sunil Rao and all the BJP municipal corporators besides several sarpanches, among others, took part in the padayatra.
Hordes of youths, mainly ardent devotees of Lord Anjanna, walked along with Mr. Sanjay from Karimnagar to Kondagattu.
People queued up along the padayatra route and greeted Mr. Sanjay even as the BJP cadres raised ‘Jai Hanuman’ slogans, waving saffron flags en route Kondagattu.
Mild commotion prevailed at Konaraopet in Ramadugu mandal when a swarm of bees attacked the participants of the padayatra on Saturday afternoon. Three BJP cadres suffered minor injuries in the incident. They were administered first-aid by a mobile medical team.
The padayatra led by Mr. Sanjay reached Kondagattu hill shrine at around 8.45 p.m. after covering a distance of 40 km.
Published – March 14, 2026 09:38 pm IST
