Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has triggered a political controversy after contrasting Lord Ram and Lord Shiva while discussing the differences between political and cultural identities in northern and southern India.
Speaking at a media conclave in New Delhi on Monday, Reddy said that both deities are revered but described Shiva as the “God of the poor” and Ram as the “God of the rich”. He also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party had politically appropriated Ram and questioned why BJP leaders prominently use the slogan “Jai Shri Ram” but do not similarly use “Har Har Mahadev”.
Reddy further framed his remarks around his interpretation of Dravidian and Aryan cultural identities, saying that people in southern India are more closely associated with Shiva worship, while northern India is associated with Ram worship. He linked the distinction to the Congress and BJP’s political bases, making the religious comparison part of a broader political argument.
The comments drew a sharp response from Union Minister and BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar. Kumar accused Reddy of creating political divisions between Ram and Shiva and argued that Telangana itself has prominent religious centres associated with both deities, including Vemulawada and Bhadrachalam.
The exchange has added another point of confrontation between the Congress-led Telangana government and the BJP. Reddy’s remarks also came while he was discussing broader political differences between southern and northern states, including concerns over electoral and delimitation issues.
The controversy has consequently placed religious symbolism, regional identity and political rhetoric at the centre of a fresh debate in Telangana.
