If they're allies of the BJP, even if they're staunch atheists, connected to Christianity, or beef-eaters, they're seen as great Hindu allies. But if someone isn’t aligned with the BJP, no matter their position or how devout they are in their practices, they are labeled as anti-Hindu! It's as though joining the BJP makes one a saint, and being part of the BJP alliance automatically turns someone into a Hindu warrior.
Take Chandrababu Naidu, for example. It seems like he's suddenly struck with devotion, going around saying that Lord Venkateswara himself has instructed him! Yet, no one talks about his past comments on Ayyappa Swami, the temples demolished under his rule, or the tragedy during the Pushkarams! It doesn’t matter if he once offered prayers while wearing shoes; now, he's considered almost on par with Lord Venkateswara himself!
And then there’s Pawan Kalyan. His words often lack consistency. He once claimed his father used the lamps from family prayers to light his cigarettes. He also openly shared his love for Mother Mary and how he baptized his children! His kids aren’t Hindus, nor is his current wife. Yet today, Pawan Kalyan calls on Hindus to take to the streets. He even quoted Vivekananda to justify eating beef during a meeting with Muslims! He says whatever comes to mind. But now, he's carrying the torch for Hindutva in Andhra Pradesh.
All of this is because they are allies of the BJP. If their relationship with the BJP sours in the future, will Pawan Kalyan and Chandrababu Naidu still speak about Hindutva? Both have criticized the BJP in the past for demolishing mosques and stoking communal tensions. Pawan Kalyan has often stated that it is Hindu leaders who ignite tensions between religions. Now that Hindutva is trending and they think they can benefit politically, they are singing a different tune. Their closeness with the BJP allows them to say anything!
Take Jagan, for instance. When he was Chief Minister, he presented ceremonial offerings during Lord Venkateswara's Brahmotsavams. His father, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, also carried out these duties as CM. Even during the united Andhra Pradesh days, YSR ensured that state-sponsored Thalambralu were offered to Lord Rama in Bhadrachalam during Sri Rama Navami. While YSR and Jagan may not personally follow every Hindu tradition, they never disrupted state religious offerings. Neither of them ever insulted Hindu customs, unlike Chandrababu. They've never made statements like Pawan Kalyan, who once claimed Hindus themselves cause chaos while portraying people of other religions as saints. Religion is a personal matter, but under their rule, there was never any lack of respect for Hindu traditions! Yet, for the past 15 years, there's been constant criticism, and it continues to this day.
In Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, who is a Hindu and a member of the Kuruba caste, is facing criticism from BJP supporters pushing their Hindutva agenda, attempting to portray him as anti-Hindu.
It's worth noting that the BJP welcomed Jagan with open arms when his MPs supported their bills, but now that Jagan doesn’t have the seats, they are putting on a Hindutva show. The irony is that Pawan Kalyan and Chandrababu are the ones leading this charge!