'All limits of sycophancy': BJP slams Revanth Reddy for linking Christmas celebrations to Sonia Gandhi

Reddy’s remarks, made at a Christmas celebration event on Saturday, quickly went viral on social media and triggered a heated political exchange between the Congress and the BJP.

Days ahead of Christmas, a political controversy has erupted in Telangana after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy credited Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for enabling the celebration of Christmas in the state, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP.

Reddy’s remarks, made at a Christmas celebration event on Saturday, quickly went viral on social media and triggered a heated political exchange between the Congress and the BJP.

Reacting strongly, the BJP described the Chief Minister’s comments as “bizarre” and accused the Congress of indulging in extreme sycophancy. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla led the attack, alleging that Reddy had crossed “all limits of sycophancy” by linking a religious festival to a political leader.

“At this rate, he might next say that even the sun rises because of Sonia Gandhi,” Poonawalla said, mocking the statement. “This reflects the Congress mindset of praising one family at any cost, even by insulting religious communities.”

Poonawalla also accused the Congress of consistently undermining the contributions of national leaders. “The Congress has a history of sidelining icons like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, B R Ambedkar and Birsa Munda, while glorifying a single political family,” he said.

Demanding an apology from the Chief Minister, the BJP spokesperson said Reddy’s remarks were “humiliating and disrespectful to the Christian community” and had politicised a religious festival.

The controversy stems from Reddy’s comments at the Christmas event, where he stated that people in Telangana were able to celebrate Christmas due to the “sacrifices” made by Sonia Gandhi. He described December as a “miracle month” for both Congress and Telangana, linking it to Sonia Gandhi’s birthday on December 9.

Reddy also reiterated that Sonia Gandhi had fulfilled a six-decade-old aspiration by facilitating the creation of a separate Telangana state. He said the decision was taken despite the Congress facing political losses in Andhra Pradesh.

Referring to the Telangana statehood movement, the Chief Minister said many young people had sacrificed their lives and that statehood was achieved under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership.