Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana state president G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday, July 16, 2026, condemned a private school in Saidabad, Hyderabad, alleging that a Class 2 Hindu student was forced to recite and write Islamic prayers — the Kalma and Surah Al-Fatiha — as part of assigned homework, calling it 'an open attempt at religious indoctrination of innocent minors.'

What Was Alleged

Kishan Reddy stated in his post that a private school in Saidabad, a locality in Hyderabad, had assigned a Class 2 student from the Hindu community to recite and write the Kalma and Surah Al-Fatiha as homework. He described the incident as 'deeply shocking' and characterised it as religious indoctrination targeting minors. The minister urged 'the administration and the police to take strict action against the culprits.'

The specific school involved, the identity of the student, and the exact nature of the homework assignment have not been independently confirmed. No official statement from the Telangana education department or police had been issued at the time of publication.

Context: Political Charge Against CM Revanth Reddy

Kishan Reddy directly held Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy accountable, writing: 'This falls squarely on CM Revanth Reddy. Your Result of Congress' poisonous politics of appeasement?' The framing positions the alleged school incident as a symptom of what the BJP describes as the Congress-led state government's minority appeasement policies.

Revanth Reddy has led a Congress government in Telangana since December 2023, when the party defeated the incumbent BRS administration in state assembly elections. The BJP, which is the principal opposition in the state, has frequently targeted the Congress government on issues relating to minority outreach and educational policy.

Policy Backdrop

The Right to Education Act, 2009 mandates that schools maintain a secular character and prohibits religious discrimination in admissions and curriculum. Any school — private or government-aided — compelling students to participate in religious instruction of a faith other than their own would raise questions under this framework, as well as under broader constitutional provisions on freedom of religion.

Allegations of religious practices being introduced into school settings have periodically surfaced across multiple states since 2014, often resulting in police complaints, departmental inquiries, and sustained political exchanges between ruling and opposition parties. This incident follows that established pattern, with an opposition leader using an individual complaint to question the state government's commitment to secular education norms.

Stakeholders and Impact

The alleged incident touches directly on the rights of Hindu students in private minority-run or privately managed schools in Hyderabad, and on the obligations of such institutions under national education law. Parents, local Hindu organisations, and minority community representatives are all potential stakeholders in how the case is handled by authorities.

For the Telangana Congress government, the allegation — amplified by a Union Minister and state BJP chief — adds political pressure ahead of any future electoral cycle. The Telangana education department and Hyderabad police now face calls to investigate and respond publicly to the complaint.

What's Next

An official inquiry by the Telangana education department or a police investigation into the Saidabad school would be the immediate next step, should authorities act on Kishan Reddy's call. A formal response from the Congress government in Telangana or national party spokespersons is also likely. Should a complaint be filed before a court or the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the matter could escalate beyond the state level. The episode is expected to fuel further exchanges between the BJP and Congress over minority education policy in Telangana.