"Ram Is for the Rich, Shiva for the Poor" Remark Draws Sharp BJP Retaliation

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-09-29 13:26:00

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has ignited a fierce political controversy by drawing a sharp distinction between the cultural and religious identities of North and South India, asserting during a public interaction that Lord Shiva is worshipped as the deity of the poor while Lord Rama represents the wealthy. Questioning the political dominance of specific slogans used by national leaders, the Chief Minister suggested a deep cultural divide between the northern and southern regions of the country, prompting an immediate and severe backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Controversial Remarks: Contrasting North-South Traditions and Deities

During his media interaction, the Telangana Chief Minister launched into a detailed commentary on regional theology and political symbolism:

Questioning Slogan Usage: Reddy questioned why national leaders predominantly chant "Jai Shri Ram" during public rallies rather than incorporating invocations like "Har Har Mahadev."

The Aryan-Dravidian and Deity Divide: Drawing broad regional lines, the Chief Minister remarked, "We are Dravidians, they are Aryans. We are devotees of Lord Shiva, while they are devotees of Lord Rama," adding his perspective that Lord Shiva connects deeply with ordinary citizens, whereas Lord Rama symbolizes elite affluence.

Concerns Over Parliamentary Delimitation: Beyond theological comparisons, Reddy voiced apprehensions regarding upcoming Lok Sabha seat delimitation exercises, cautioning that weighting representation solely by population statistics could diminish the legislative influence and political voice of southern states.

BJP Fires Back: Accusations of Divisive Politics and Exploiting Faith

The ruling party's leadership reacted swiftly and sharply, accusing the Telangana Chief Minister of attempting to polarize society along religious and geographical fault lines:

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's Rebuttal: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar condemned the remarks, pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently visits revered Shaivite shrines, including Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Telangana's own Vemulawada temple.

Erasing Artificial Boundaries: Sanjay criticized Reddy for attempting to partition Hindu deities into regional brackets, emphasizing that Telangana houses both sacred pilgrimage sites like Bhadrachalam (often termed the South Ayodhya) and prominent shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Call for Responsible Governance: The BJP argued that dragging revered religious figures into electoral rhetoric demonstrates desperation and a deliberate strategy to fracture societal harmony for political mobilization.

Previous Post

India's major success, DRDO successfully tests hypersonic missile technology

Next Post

SC Agrees to Hear Plea Alleging Unilateral Decision-Making by Chief Election Commissioner