Worshiping politicians is not new in India, but one man from Telangana has taken things to a whole new – cringeworthy – level.
At 11 am every morning, 31-year-old Bussa Krishna from Telangana's Konne village in Bachannapet Mandal near Jangoan, sits down and does a 'puja' for controversial United States President Donald Trump.
He then proceeds to take a photo and post it on Facebook, which has managed to capture the attention of several Trump supporters in the US.
How did he pick up this peculiar “hobby”? Speaking to TNM, Krishna says, "I first read about Trump on the internet while he was campaigning for the US Presidential Elections. I also saw that he took part in World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and immediately took a liking to him."
Krishna says the 'worship' and prayers started after the murder of 32-year-old Srinivas Kuchibhotla at the Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe in Kansas last year in an alleged hate crime after the accused yelled "get out of my country" – an irony, considering Trump’s policy on immigrants. But Krishna says, his ‘bhakti’ will bring the two countries together, and that is his aim.
"I saw a few hate crimes and I wanted to do something good for the country. I decided to bring the two nations closer with my 'bhakti'. America should recognise us. I decided to offer prayers to him for the sake of my country," Krishna says.
While Krishna claims this grovelling is for the sake of international relations, critics say this is just a publicity stunt. Especially since Krishna says he has no clue about any of Trump’s policies or his politics.
"I just wanted the US citizens to love Indians and not hate them. Everyone should live together and they should know about the good things we do as well," he says.
Krishna even has a spot for Trump's photo in his house, decked with flowers and incense sticks.
Krishna has managed to draw the attention of quite a few Trump fans, who leave encouraging comments on his posts, photos and videos.
"They really like it when they see Trump's photo decked up. They are telling me that they have new appreciation for Indian culture. Even now, I wish only for the well being of Indians," he says.
However, some also ridicule the prayers and question if he is serious about the prayers and question the need to liken Trump to God.
"The people from US don't mock me much. They understand how serious I am. It is mostly Indians who leave such comments. Even in my village, many people think I'm weird. I have nothing to gain or lose from this. I just want cordial relationships between the two countries," Krishna says.
To prove it, he even posted a video around two months ago, that showed him cutting his own finger and applying blood on Trump's portrait, in accordance with Hindu rituals.
The US President has been facing severe backlash after a number of young children have been separated from their families at the US-Mexico border as part of his immigration policies, with Time Magazine even dedicating their latest cover to the issue.
When TNM asked Krishna about his views on the same, he responds, “I don’t know anything about Trump’s policies. I have only studied up to Class 10 and I don’t know much about these things. I’m only doing all of this for the good of Indians and for peace between our two countries.”
Despite never having been outside his own state, Krishna hopes that Trump is re-elected in the 2020 US Presidential Elections, adding that he will continue to pray for him.