HYDERABAD: Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Tuesday alleged that BRS MLA T Harish Rao had performed ‘kshudra puja’ (occult rituals) to prevent rainfall in the state in the hope of gaining political mileage from a drought.The BRS hit back at the allegations, calling them baseless and an example of “low-level politics”, news agency PTI reported.“Harish Rao served as a minister and enjoyed every opportunity after the formation of Telangana. His selfishness has reached its peak,” Goud said.“He is performing ‘kshudra pujas’ (occult rituals), wishing that Telangana receives no rain, crops fail, and people and livestock perish due to drought. He believes he will benefit politically if that happens,” he claimed.Goud claimed that Harish Rao, a nephew of BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, visited certain temples in Shivamogga, Karnataka, and Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu, during March, May and June, alleging that such rituals are performed there.Claiming to have evidence of Harish Rao’s visits, Goud said the BRS leader should clarify the purpose of those trips if he had not performed any ‘kshudra pujas’.He questioned why Harish Rao, whom he described as someone who publicises every move for political mileage, had not made photographs of those visits public.Harish Rao allegedly performed the ‘kshudra pujas’ in the hope that the BRS would benefit politically if drought-triggered anti-incumbency developed against the Congress government, Goud claimed.He alleged that such rituals are known to be performed at some temples in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.Reacting to Goud’s remarks, BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar said Congress leaders should apologise to the Hindu community, PTI reported.“The Congress leaders have insulted not only Harish Rao but also Hindus across the world and the Aghoras,” he claimed.Goud’s remarks came days after similar allegations were made by Congress leaders Addanki Dayakar and Sama Ram Mohan Reddy.Taking exception to Goud’s remarks, Harish Rao issued him a legal notice.He demanded that the Telangana Congress president withdraw the allegedly defamatory statements made during the press conference, including those linking him to occult practices during temple visits, and issue a public apology through the same platforms to mitigate the reputational damage.Harish Rao also sought the removal of the allegedly defamatory content from websites, social media platforms and other published material, besides demanding publication of a clarification correcting what he described as false allegations.(With agency inputs)
