On Monday, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy told a media conclave in Delhi that Congress enjoys support mainly in the south, but not in the north, and that the BJP has appropriated the figure of Lord Ram, who is revered in northern India, while Shiva is worshipped in the south.
Reddy said the BJP’s use of “Jai Sri Ram” alienates northern devotees who prefer “Har Har Mahadev” and that the party has not used the latter at public events. He claimed that the BJP has “stolen” Ram, a sentiment he described as emotional, and noted that BJP leaders rarely say “Har Har Mahadev” on stage.
He linked the issue to a broader political strategy, claiming that the BJP’s SIR campaign aims to remove votes and benefit the party. Reddy urged opposition leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray and MK Stalin to unite for a “SIR, go back” movement, drawing a parallel with the “Simon, go back” stir of the freedom movement.
Reddy also highlighted his government’s focus on education, mentioning the Young India Skills University as part of its initiatives.
Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar responded on X, criticizing Reddy’s earlier remarks about Muslims and Congress and warning him against dividing religious symbols between north and south. Kumar noted Telangana’s sacred sites, such as Dakshina Kashi at Vemulawada and Dakshina Ayodhya at Bhadrachalam, to emphasize the need for unity.
