Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana, spoke at a Delhi media briefing on Monday, demanding that BJP leaders also chant 'Har Har Mahadev' alongside 'Jai Shri Ram'. He compared the southern Dravidians to northern Aryans, claiming that while the south worships Shiva as the 'God of the poor', the north follows Ram as the 'God of the rich'.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari immediately condemned the remarks, accusing Reddy of following Rahul Gandhi's instructions to sow division among Hindus. Bhandari said the CM's comments were part of a vote‑bank strategy.
Bhandari also alleged that Congress had historically opposed major temple projects such as Somnath and Kashi Vishwanath, and that BJP leaders chant both slogans.
The comments triggered protests in Delhi and Hyderabad, where thousands of BJP supporters gathered to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in response. A 55‑year‑old farmer from Mahbubnagar told reporters that the row distracted from urgent rural development needs.
The controversy comes as Telangana gears up for its next assembly election, with parties preparing for a tight campaign that could see the BJP swing on religious rhetoric.