Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s conduct at Lionel Messi event sparks outrage

Lionel Messi’s Hyderabad stop during his GOAT India tour has sparked a political storm in Telangana. Social media users criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy after videos showed him pushing away a teenager seeking a selfie with Messi, while allowing his family members and children of Congress leaders to interact with the football legend.

Hyderabad: Football fans in Telangana were certainly happy to get a glimpse of Lionel Messi as part of his GOAT India tour, but did the Congress government spend a huge amount, said to be around Rs 100 crore, to bring the football icon to Hyderabad for the benefit of football fans and sports tourism, or merely for Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his family members to pose for photographs and fool around with the global star? Social media has been abuzz with these questions since Saturday night.

The outrage followed the circulation of a video showing the Chief Minister pushing away a teenager who attempted to take a selfie with Messi. The footage triggered sharp criticism, with many questioning the Chief Minister’s conduct.

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Videos showing Revanth Reddy pushing aside the unidentified teenager and later allowing his grandson and nephews to pose with and kick the ball alongside Messi, along with children of Congress leaders close to him, went viral. The visuals prompted widespread criticism over what many described as discriminatory behaviour towards an ordinary football enthusiast.

“Revanth Reddy pushes a teenager with arrogance for trying to take a selfie with Messi but lets his grandchild play with the legend. What is this behaviour of Chief Minister towards the youngster?” asked one X user while sharing the video.

Several users also questioned the purpose and outcome of the high-profile event, particularly in the context of public expenditure. This came amid the State government’s difficulties in clearing retirement benefits of government employees and repeated claims by the Chief Minister that Telangana was facing a severe financial crunch.

“Promotion of football? Sponsored by Govt’s Singareni. Messi gave trophy to Congress Kondal’s son. Messi signed T shirt of Congress Rohin’s son. Messi dribbled ball to Congress Revanth’s grandson. Messi gave pass to Congress Raj Thakur’s son. Rs. 20,000 to watch the match. Rs. 10 lakh each collected from other people who wanted picture with Messi,” BRS official spokesperson Manne Krishank posted on X.

Questions were also raised over the Chief Minister’s earlier remarks targeting the family members of BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao.

“Why so much hatred toward KCR’s family? When Revanth Reddy’s grandson plays with Messi using Telangana’s money, no one questions it. But when KCR’s grandson visits Bhadrachalam to offer prayers, every media house and opposition leader cries as if they have lost their lives,” Giri Cherkupally posted on X.