Archive · 29 Sep 2026
VHP Condemns Revanth Reddy’s Remarks Comparing Lord Ram, Shiva
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy made comments comparing the worship of Lord Shiva and Lord Ram.
He called Shiva the God of the poor and Ram the God of the rich.
He also said the BJP is a party of wealthy people.
Reddy said the BJP has used Lord Ram’s importance in northern India.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad strongly objected to these comments.
Its spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, said the remarks tried to divide Hindu deities.
Bansal also criticised the Congress over several earlier positions related to Hindu beliefs.
He asked whether the Congress would apologise.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy called Lord Shiva the “God of the poor” and Lord Ram the “God of the rich.”
Reddy said the Bharatiya Janata Party is a party of the rich and has politically claimed Lord Ram in northern India.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad called the comments a divisive attack on Hindu faith and Hindu deities.
VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal accused the Indian National Congress of dividing Hindu society by caste, creed, sect, language and region.
Bansal demanded that the Congress leadership clarify whether it would apologise for what he described as appeasement politics.
- Who
- Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, the Vishva Hindu Parishad and its spokesperson Vinod Bansal, the Indian National Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- What
- The VHP criticised Reddy’s remarks contrasting Lord Ram and Lord Shiva and demanded a Congress apology.
- When
- The VHP issued its criticism on Tuesday, one day after Reddy made the remarks.
- Where
- Reddy made the remarks at a media organisation’s conclave in Delhi; the VHP response was posted on X.
- Why
- Reddy was discussing regional political support and religious symbolism; the VHP said his comparison divided Hindu society and Hindu deities.
Reddy’s Political Framing
VHP’s Religious Objection
Meaning of the comparison
Reddy’s Political Framing
Reddy presented Lord Shiva and Lord Ram as associated with poorer and wealthier social groups while discussing political differences between southern and northern India.
VHP’s Religious Objection
The VHP said describing Ram and Shiva as gods of the rich and poor attempted to divide Hindu deities and Hindu society.
Congress and Hindu faith
Reddy’s Political Framing
Reddy said the BJP had politically claimed Lord Ram in the north, while Lord Shiva is worshipped in the south.
VHP’s Religious Objection
Vinod Bansal accused Congress leaders of past positions that he said sought to undermine Sanatan Dharma and Hindu traditions.
Political accountability
Reddy’s Political Framing
Reddy’s remarks were made in the context of explaining why Congress performs better in southern states than in the north.
VHP’s Religious Objection
Bansal called on the Congress leadership to clarify whether it would apologise for what he termed appeasement politics.
- Speaker
- A Revanth Reddy, Telangana Chief Minister
- VHP response
- The organisation described the remarks as a despicable attack on Hindu faith.
- Reddy’s comparison
- He described Lord Shiva as the God of the poor and Lord Ram as the God of the rich.
- Political reference
- Reddy called the Bharatiya Janata Party a party of the rich.
- VHP spokesperson
- Vinod Bansal issued the criticism on behalf of the Vishva Hindu Parishad.
- Demand
- Bansal asked whether the Congress high command would apologise.