Telangana Congress MLA Kumbam Anil Kumar Reddy found himself embroiled in controversy after his Bakrid greetings on social media included a graphic image of a cow prompting sharp criticism from the BJP on Monday.
The graphic, which was intended to feature a goat, sparked immediate outrage, especially from BJP MLA Raja Singh. Known for his strong Hindutva views, Singh alleged that the image was an insult to Hindu sentiments and questioned the Congress's stance on respecting religious sentiments.
"While there is nothing objectionable about greeting people on the occasion of Bakrid, what message does the MLA want to convey?" Singh asked, as per a report on PTI. He further questioned the silence of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on the issue, suggesting that such incidents are indicative of a broader trend wherever Congress governs.
Responding to the backlash, Anil Kumar Reddy issued an apology, attributing the incident to an "inadvertent error." In a video statement, he emphasized his commitment to traditional values and identified himself as a 'Ram bhakt.'
"I sincerely apologize if anyone is hurt by the post. As a Ram bhakt, I have always respected all traditions. The error was unintentional," Reddy said, as per the report.
In a Facebook post, Anil Kumar said, "At times there are certain fake/wrong posts by some individuals on social media platforms and I urge individuals who are trying to exploit an unintentional human error by a social media agency for petty political gains to think in larger interest of people, society, and country and not spread hatred. My life in public service has been an open book and the people of Bhongir know me well and the values that I stand for."
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He also mentioned that he has instructed his social media team to exercise greater caution in the future and is investigating how the mistake occurred.