Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Congress Accuses BRS Leader Harish Rao of Kshudra Pujas
In the Indian state of Telangana, two political groups are arguing.
One group, the Congress party, runs the state government.
Another group, called BRS, used to run it but does not anymore.
Congress leaders said a BRS leader named T Harish Rao went to temples and performed special rituals.
They believe he did these rituals to make the rains stop and to hurt their government.
Mister Rao says that is not true at all.
He asked his lawyer to send a letter telling the Congress leaders to say sorry.
The letter warns that he could go to court if they do not apologise.
Another BRS leader said going to temples is a normal religious practice for many people.
He thinks politicians should talk about their ideas instead of making fun of people's religion.
Congress leaders accused BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao of performing 'kshudra pujas' with the alleged intention of bringing drought to Telangana and damaging the Congress government.
Congress leader Sama Ramamohan Reddy alleged Rao had visited Tiruchirappalli and Shivamogga on several occasions for tantric rituals, asking directly about their purpose.
Rao rejected the allegations and issued legal notices to TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Sama Ramamohan Reddy and Addanki Dayakar.
Rao's lawyer demanded unconditional public apologies and withdrawal of the statements, warning of civil and criminal defamation proceedings.
BRS MLC leader Dasoju Sravan defended Rao's temple visits, accusing Congress of portraying traditional Hindu religious practices as 'kshudra pujas' and questioning rituals by Congress's own leaders.
- Who
- Congress leaders in Telangana (B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Sama Ramamohan Reddy, Addanki Dayakar) and BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao, with BRS MLC leader Dasoju Sravan defending him.
- What
- A political dispute over allegations that Rao performed 'kshudra pujas' to bring drought to Telangana, answered by legal notices demanding apologies.
- When
- Not specified in the articles.
- Where
- Telangana, India; the alleged rituals reportedly took place in Tiruchirappalli and Shivamogga.
- Why
- Congress leaders alleged Rao acted with 'evil intent' to damage the state's Congress government because BRS is out of power; Rao calls it a smear campaign.
Congress (Accusers)
BRS (Accused)
The 'kshudra pujas' allegation
Congress (Accusers)
Harish Rao performed tantric or 'kshudra pujas' at religious centres with 'evil intent' to bring drought to Telangana and cause political damage to the Congress government.
BRS (Accused)
Rao denies the allegations and calls them a smear campaign, issuing legal notices that demand unconditional public apologies and withdrawal of the statements.
Temple visits as religious practice
Congress (Accusers)
Congress leaders directly questioned Rao about the purpose of his repeated visits to Tiruchirappalli and Shivamogga for alleged tantric rituals.
BRS (Accused)
BRS's Dasoju Sravan said the visits were traditional Hindu religious practices that Congress is deliberately portraying as 'kshudra pujas', noting religious visits and rituals by Congress's own leaders.
Focus of political discourse
Congress (Accusers)
Congress leaders pressed Rao with the direct question of what purpose his religious visits served.
BRS (Accused)
Sravan argued that politics should be a persuasive debate on policies and that discourse should focus on governance rather than religious practices.
- Allegation
- T Harish Rao performed tantric or 'kshudra pujas' to bring drought to Telangana and damage the Congress government
- Accusers
- B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Sama Ramamohan Reddy, Addanki Dayakar (Congress leaders)
- Accused
- T Harish Rao, BRS leader and former minister
- Locations of alleged rituals
- Tiruchirappalli and Shivamogga
- Rao's response
- Legal notices demanding unconditional public apologies and withdrawal of the statements
- Legal warning
- Civil and criminal defamation proceedings if demands are not met
- BRS defense
- Temple visits are traditional Hindu religious practices, not 'kshudra pujas'
- Status
- Dispute has moved from political allegations to legal notices