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Revanth Reddy Says BJP 'Stole Lord Ram' in North
Revanth Reddy is the chief minister of Telangana.
He said the BJP became stronger in northern India by using devotion to Lord Ram.
He said many people in southern India worship Shiva and that his party, Congress, does not perform as well in the north.
Reddy also said Shiva is associated with poor people and Ram with rich people, though this was his political claim.
He criticized the BJP for using the slogan 'Jai Sri Ram' instead of 'Har Har Mahadev.'
Reddy also opposed SIR, alleging that it could remove voters and help the BJP.
He said opposition leaders might organize protests against it.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar rejected Reddy's remarks and said Ram and Shiva should not be divided between north and south.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy alleged that the BJP gained support in northern India by associating itself with Lord Ram.
Reddy contrasted northern devotion to Lord Ram with southern devotion to Shiva and said the BJP uses only the slogan 'Jai Sri Ram.'
He claimed Shiva represents the poor, while Ram represents the rich, and described the BJP as a party of the rich.
Reddy alleged that opposition leaders could unite against SIR in a movement similar to the 'Simon, go back' agitation.
Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticized Reddy, saying he should not divide Lord Rama and Lord Shiva along regional lines.
- Who
- Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
- What
- Reddy made claims about the BJP's use of Lord Ram in northern politics and called for opposition to SIR; Kumar criticized those remarks.
- Where
- A media-organized conclave in Delhi.
- When
- Monday, September 28.
- Why
- Reddy was discussing why the Congress performs better in southern India than in northern, eastern and western states, and he was criticizing SIR.
Revanth Reddy's Position
Bandi Sanjay Kumar's Response
Religious symbolism and regional politics
Revanth Reddy's Position
Reddy alleged that the BJP 'stole' Lord Ram as a political and emotional symbol in northern India, while southern states have a stronger association with Shiva.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar's Response
Kumar said Reddy should not divide Lord Rama and Lord Shiva into northern and southern traditions, particularly as Telangana includes Vemulawada and Bhadrachalam.
SIR
Revanth Reddy's Position
Reddy alleged that SIR is intended to delete votes and benefit the BJP, and called for an opposition-led protest.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar's Response
The article does not report a response from Kumar specifically addressing Reddy's SIR allegations.
Political identity
Revanth Reddy's Position
Reddy described Shiva as the God of the poor and Ram as the God of the rich, linking the BJP with wealthy interests.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar's Response
Kumar accused Reddy of drawing political boundaries between religious figures and referred to his earlier statement about Muslims and Congress.
Key facts
- Speaker
- A Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana
- Main allegation
- Reddy alleged that the BJP benefited in the north by associating itself with Lord Ram.
- Religious comparison
- Reddy said Shiva is worshipped in the south, while Lord Ram is revered in the north.
- SIR criticism
- Reddy alleged that SIR would delete votes and benefit the BJP.
- Proposed response
- Reddy said opposition leaders could launch a 'SIR, go back' agitation.
- Critic
- Bandi Sanjay Kumar said Reddy was wrongly dividing Lord Rama and Lord Shiva into north and south.
- Other topic
- Reddy also discussed his government's education initiatives, including Young India Skills University.
Quotes
Bandi Sanjay Kumar
Union Minister of State who criticized Reddy’s remarks
“Being the CM of Telangana that has Dakshina Kashi at Vemulawada and Dakshina Ayodhya at Bhadrachalam, Revanth Reddy should know better than to divide Lord Rama and Lord Shiva into North and South.”
theprint.in
“BJP stole Ram. It’s an emotion. It’s a sentiment.”
theprint.in
Sources
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