Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders continued to increase their criticism of Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy after his recent comments on Hinduism. The dispute led to a protest outside the BJP state office, where party workers burnt his effigy in anger.

State BJP president N Ramchander Rao had already called for statewide protests on December 3 and accused the chief minister of making “anti-Hindu” remarks.

On Tuesday afternoon, a small group of BJP workers gathered early outside the party office, shouted slogans and set an effigy of Revanth Reddy on fire as part of their protest.

Union minister Kishan Reddy said the chief minister had claimed during the Jubilee Hills bypoll campaign that “Congress means Muslims and Muslims mean Congress”, and he accused him of making “arrogant comments against Hindus and Hindu gods and goddesses” because of his “friendship with the AIMIM”.

“The time has come for Hindus to unite in Telangana also. The time has come to show the power of Hindus to Revanth Reddy and the Congress party,” he said.

“The arrogance of Congress and Revanth Reddy should be removed using the power of the vote, which helped them to come to power,” he added.

Union MoS Home Sanjay Kumar said the party had warned during the bypoll that Hindus would “lose their self-respect” if Congress or BRS won.

“Hindu society should think now whether they want to face insults by remaining divided or show their power by ensuring unity. BJP never insults other religions. BJP respects all religions,” he said.

He said that the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi follows the idea of “sab ka saath, sab ka vikas, sab ka vishwas”.

Speaking at the Congress executive meeting, Revanth Reddy defended the party’s diversity and compared it to the many ways devotees worship in Hinduism.

“Because there is freedom in the Congress, the party has existed for 140 years. People with all kinds of mindsets will be there in here,” he said.

“How many Gods are there in Hinduism? How many deities? Are there 3 crore? Why? There is Hanuman for those who don't get married, there is another God for those who marry twice, there is one God for those who drink alcohol, there are people who offer Alcohol & Chicken to Yellamma, Pochamma, Maisamma and there is also a God for those who eat Rice & Dal. There are all kinds of Gods,” he said.

He said the political diversity inside the Congress should be seen in the same way.

“When we were unable to bring consensus even on Gods, I don't think there will be a consensus on political leaders or district presidents.”

Revanth Reddy also asked party leaders to leave behind personal complaints.

“You must let go of those things once you have taken up this responsibility… From today onwards, a changed person should be seen in you.”

The comments have resulted in strong reactions from national BJP leaders.

Union minister Giriraj Singh said the Congress had launched “a campaign against Hindus”.

“Whoever says things like this neither believes in India's constitution nor has anything to do with India's culture… Revanth Reddy should declare the Congress Party as the Muslim League Congress Party,” he said.

He also targeted Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani.

“Maulana Madani should go to some Islamic country as a Speaker… The one who talks about jihad should be tried as per the law.”

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Whether it is Maulana Madani or the Congress Party, both seem to be speaking in the same voice today… The kind of language used by the Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, for Hindu deities is not only objectionable but hateful.”

TTD Board Member Bhanuprakash Reddy also asked the chief minister to apologise and described the comments as “an affront to the sentiments of millions of Hindus”.

He said that “such statements would have consequences” and added that criticising old and deeply held traditions of worship was “unacceptable”.