Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

Hyderabad:

Amid a row over the caste survey in Telangana, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not from a backward class by birth but belongs to a “legally converted backward class”. Mr Modi’s caste, Mr Reddy claimed, was added to the backward classes by the Gujarat government after the BJP leader became the state’s chief minister in 2001. 

Slamming Mr Reddy, the BJP said the Telangana chief minister wanted to hog headlines by making such comments because he does not do any work and had failed to fulfil the promises he had made to the people of Telangana. 

Speaking at a Congress event on Friday, Mr Reddy said in Telugu, “PM Modi claims to be from a backward class, but he is not from a backward class by birth. He is a legally converted backward class. I am choosing my words carefully. Till he became chief minister in 2001, he was among the forward castes. After he became chief minister, he shifted his caste’s category from forward to backward by enacting a legislation.”

 “He says he is in the chair as a backward class. He may hold a caste certificate as a backward class but his mindset is anti-backward class,” the Telangana chief minister claimed. 

BJP Spokesperson RP Singh said Mr Reddy was resorting to making such statements to remain relevant. 

“He (Mr Reddy) does not do any work and wants to ensure he makes headlines by making such controversial statements. He had earlier said (former chief minister) K Chandrashekar Rao had ‘Bihari genes’, thereby insulting all of Bihar. He should talk only after finding out all the facts,” Mr Singh said.

K Laxman, the BJP’s OBC (Other Backward Classes) Morcha national president, said Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had made a similar statement in the past.

“Mr Reddy’s comment on PM Modi’s caste is absolutely false. Rahul Gandhi had also made a similar remark and fallen in the eyes of the people. Why do people from the Congress keep commenting on the PM’s caste? Revanth Reddy made the comment to keep his leaders happy. Mr Reddy could not fulfil the promises and guarantees that he made to the people of Telangana, who are angry,  and is making such statements to distract from the real issues,” he said. 

Panel’s Clarification

After Rahul Gandhi had made a similar statement last year, the National Commission of Backward classes had said that the notification for inclusion of the Modh Ghanchi caste in the State List of OBC was issued by the Gujarat government on July 25, 1994.

“National Commission for Backward Classes tendered advice to Union Government on 15.11.1997 for inclusion of Modh-Ghanchi in the Central List of OBCs for the State of Gujarat and Gazette Notification for the same was issued on 27.10.1999… It may be noted that when both of above decisions for inclusion of Modh-Ghanchi in the State List of OBCs as well as in the Central List of OBCs were taken, Shri Narendra Modi held no legislative or executive position,” the commission had said. 

Caste Survey Row

After the Telangana government tabled some details from a caste survey in the Assembly on February 4, opposition parties, including the BJP and K Chandrashekar Rao’s BRS claimed that it was not comprehensive. Some leaders from within the Congress also said that there were some issues with the numbers. 

The Telangana government then announced that a second round of the survey will be conducted to cover 3.1% of the state’s population, which did not participate in the first round, from Sunday to February 28.

A political row has broken out in Telangana after the Revanth Reddy government’s proposal to confer a Padma award on Gaddar alias Gummadi Vithal Rao — a revolutionary balladeer, renowned folk singer, and also a Maoist sympathiser — was ignored by the Centre.

The Chief Minister was peeved that his government had recommended five names — Gaddar, educationist Chukka Ramaiah, poet Andesri, poet-singer Gorati Venkanna, and poet-historian Jayadheer Tirumala Rao — for various Padma awards and not one of them made it to the final list. He termed it an insult to the “four crore people of Telangana”.

The issue escalated when the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay, commented on the State government’s decision to recommend Gaddar. He said, “Giving a Padma award to those who championed Naxalism is like spitting on the graves of martyred police officers and BJP karyakartas who fell victim to [the violence propagated by those who follow] this ideology. It is a betrayal of the families of these brave officers. How can the State even consider honouring a person investigated by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) for fuelling violence?”

The State government argued that the names were sent after careful consideration of the contributions of the five individuals in the fields of art, culture, education, people’s movements, and protection of tribal culture. It said that their roles in the movement for Statehood could not be ignored. An angry Chief Minister said that he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue.

Since the creation of Telangana in 2014, one Bharat Ratna (to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao), three Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 41 Padma Shri awards have been presented to people from the State. But the Telangana government has alleged that there is discrimination against the State. While some States have managed to secure more than 10 Padma awards, it argued that Telangana received only two this time — a Padma Vibhushan for gastroenterologist Dr. Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy and a Padma Shri for Manda Krishna, the founder-president of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti.

While Gaddar, who died in 2023, was a Maoist sympathiser, he is a popular figure in Telangana. Gaddar, a Dalit, was an engineering dropout. He was attracted to the Maoist movement in the 1970s and spent over a decade underground working as its cultural ambassador. Often referred to as ‘Praja Yuddha Nauka’ (war ship of the people’s movement), Gaddar’s role in the Telangana movement between 2009 and 2014 is acknowledged not just by the people, but also by political parties.

In fact, Mr. Modi paid Gaddar glowing tributes in his condolence message to the poet’s family on August 21, 2023. Mr. Modi’s letter read: “The themes of his poems and folk songs in Telugu reflected the challenges faced by the disadvantaged sections of the society. His creative works also provided encouragement to the people. He always remained passionate about the progress of Telangana. His contribution towards revitalising a traditional art form will be remembered by the people.”

This is why Mr. Bandi Sanjay’s comments have not only angered the Congress, but also divided the State BJP unit and put them in a spot. While some party cadres support his stand, others point out that the Prime Minister, too, has acknowledged the activist’s contribution. They also worry that by openly claiming that the Centre decides who should get the awards, Mr. Bandi Sanjay has created the impression that favouritism takes precedence over merit.

There is a clear political angle to the decisions too. The Centre reportedly felt that by recommending certain people who were active during the Statehood movement, the Revanth Reddy government was trying to woo the cadres of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti. Gaddar’s daughter, Vennela, was given a Congress ticket in the Assembly elections. She lost the election and is now chairperson of the Telangana Samskruthika Saradhi, a cultural wing of the State government.

While the Centre may have a point, Mr. Bandi Sanjay’s remarks have not only provided ammunition for the Telangana government, but also divided the BJP. More crucially, they seek to undermine the contributions of a man who fought relentlessly for the rights of the marginalised.

ravi.reddy@thehindu.co.in

Hyderabad:

A video of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s brother Tirupati Reddy arriving for a school function in a convoy led by a police car and being welcomed with a marching band and a parade has gone viral, igniting controversy and attracting barbs from opposition parties BRS and BJP. Tirupati Reddy holds no official position in the state.

The video, from the state’s Vikarabad district, shows the convoy pulling up near the school and Mr Reddy being handed a bouquet of flowers as he exits a black SUV. Students are lined up on either side of the road and a band marches towards the chief minister’s brother. Mr Reddy is then welcomed by one of the students leading a mini parade.

Taking to X on Friday, BRS working president KT Rama Rao took a veiled dig at Revanth Reddy and his brothers and said Telangana has got half a dozen chief ministers after the Congress came to power, even though it elected only one.

Continuing in a sarcastic vein, Mr Rao said, “My wishes to Vikarabad chief minister Tirupati Reddy.”

Tamil Nadu BJP Spokesperson NV Subhash said Tirupati Reddy enjoys privileges like a police convoy even though he is not an MP, MLA or even a corporator. The Vikarabad District Collector, Mr Subhash alleged was acting like Mr Reddy’s “personal bodyguard” during the school event.

Congress Spokesperson Sama Rammohan Reddy told news agency PTI that it is for a school’s management to decide who it wants to invite for its events and how it wants to welcome the person.

He also alleged that family members of the then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao violated rules and protocols several times during the party’s nearly decade-long rule in the state.

Hyderabad:

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accompanied by his Cabinet Ministers D Sridhar Babu, Uttam Kumar Reddy, among others, met Microsoft President Satya Nadella in Hyderabad.

Microsoft is one of the earliest technology companies in Hyderabad and has grown to a strength of 10,000 over the years.

It has also invested in a data centre capacity of 600 MW in the state.

Chief Minister Reddy thanked Mr Nadella for regular investments and the growth of Microsoft’s business in the city and state.

The Chief Minister and his IT Minister discussed various technology imperatives that the state is focusing on including AI, Gen AI, cloud, and sought Microsoft’s support to develop a strong ecosystem so that Hyderabad is seen as the leading city in the world in technology domain, the Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement Monday.

The Chief Minister also explained his plans for infrastructure development in the state including Regional Ring Road, radial roads, Future City, development of new manufacturing clusters, and how the government is proposing to create a vast pool of industry-ready talent through institutions like Young India Skills University.

As per a CMO post on X, Satya Nadella reiterated the commitment of Microsoft to partner with the state government in all its initiatives. He appreciated the Chief Minister’s vision of enhancing skills and improving infrastructure to the next level and opined that only these two can position Hyderabad in the Top 50 cities in the world for creating economic growth.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

Refusing to blame Telangana Police for the action against actor Allu Arjun in the theatre stampede case, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said the law is equal for all and police must act with public safety in mind. Mr Kalyan, leader of NDA ally Janasena Party, praised Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy as a “great leader” and suggested that Allu Arjun should have visited the family of the woman killed in the stampede earlier.

Speaking to reporters in an informal interaction at Mangalagiri, Mr Kalyan shared his perspective on the stampede incident at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre on December 4.

Allu Arjun visited the theatre where his movie Pushpa 2 was being screened. The film star’s visit led to chaos. A 35-year-old woman, Revathi, died in the incident and her son was injured. Soon after, Hyderabad police registered a case against Allu Arjun. He was arrested and granted bail shortly after.

Mr Kalyan today said it was important for law enforcement authorities to prioritise public safety. “The law is equal for all, and I do not blame the police in such incidents, they act with public safety in mind. That said, the theater staff should have informed Allu Arjun earlier about any issues. Once he sat in the seat, they should have instructed him to vacate it if necessary.”

Mr Kalyan is related to Allu Arjun. Allu Arjun’s aunt Surekha is married to renowned actor Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan’s elder brother.

“It would have been better if someone had visited the victim’s family earlier on behalf of Allu Arjun. Revathi’s death in this incident has deeply shocked me. They turned what was already lost into an even greater tragedy. We should have conveyed earlier that we are all here to support the family. There should have been a sense of regret for the mistake, even if it happened without their direct involvement. There is a clear lack of humanity in this matter. Everyone should have gone to Revathi’s house to offer reassurance and condolences. The people’s anger stems from the absence of such a gesture. Arjun, too, feels the pain of knowing that someone lost their life because of this incident,” Mr Kalyan said.

Cinema, he said, is a collaborative effort. :It is not fair to make Allu Arjun solely responsible for the incident. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, in his capacity as Chief Minister, responded appropriately to the developments following the stampede. Sometimes, decisions are dictated by circumstances. In the past, even Chiranjeevi used to watch movies with his fans. Otherwise, he would wear a mask and go to the theater alone.”

The Andhra Deputy Chief Minister described Telangana Chief Minister Reddy as a leader who has risen from humble beginnings. “Telangana CM Revanth Reddy is a great leader, who has risen from humble beginnings. He did not do like YSRCP, but instead focused on providing benefits in his state. Flexibility was granted for increasing ticket prices, which boosted movie collections. Films like Salaar and Pushpa 2 achieved massive box office success with his cooperation.”

The Sandhya Theatre incident has divided public opinion, with many questioning how Allu Arjun could be blamed for the stampede death and another section arguing that he cannot escape accountability just because he is a film star.

Amid the face-off, a delegation from the Telugu film industry met Chief Minister Reddy. The Chief Minister, it is learnt, told the delegation that the industry has full support of the state government, but there will be no compromise on law and order. “As the Chief Minister, it is my responsibility to enforce the law. I do not have any personal preferences,” sources quoted the Chief Minister as saying.

The recent face-off between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and actor Allu Arjun over the stampede at Sandhya Theatre on December 5 has begun to show signs of de-escalation, with conciliatory statements and compensation for the victim’s family.

The outpour of sympathy and support for the family of the 39-year-old mother who tragically died, and her nine-year-old son who survived life-threatening injuries, is heartening. One can only hope that as a society, we take collective responsibility to prevent such stampedes—particularly those caused by the frenzy surrounding film stars and movie releases.

That said, the Arjun vs. Reddy battle mirrors a familiar narrative in southern Indian politics: the clash between a star and a powerful politician. This story has played out numerous times, both in the political arena and in film scripts. In real-world politics, history shows that it is generally unwise for politicians to antagonise stars, especially those at the peak of their popularity.  

MGR vs Karunanidhi

The first notable example from Tamil Nadu where a politician who took on a star lost the battle is the defining story of Dravidian politics. The late Chief Minister and DMK patriarch, M. Karunanidhi, antagonised the enormously popular M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), an actor who had a massive following.

MGR worked closely with Karunanidhi in films and was part of the DMK, which was founded by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, or ‘Anna’. When Anna passed away while in office in 1969, Karunanidhi took over as Chief Minister and president of the DMK. A rift with MGR followed, leading to a split in the party. MGR went on to form his own party, the All India Anna DMK (AIADMK), and not only defeated Karunanidhi’s DMK but also kept him out of power until his death in 1987.

While there were many other factors at play, including the declaration of emergency, it was fundamentally the narrative of MGR’s persecution that fuelled the rise of the AIADMK. This emotional connection helped keep Karunanidhi and his DMK out of power in successive elections, till MGR was alive. 

Rajnikanth vs. Jayalalithaa, 1996

In 1996, the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa—MGR’s successor and a popular actor who took over the AIADMK—had a face-off with superstar Rajnikanth. The friction between the two leaders, who were neighbours in Chennai’s posh Poes Garden area, escalated when Rajnikanth publicly declared that “even God could not save the state if Jayalalithaa came back to power”.

In the 1996 elections, the AIADMK was decisively routed, with even Jayalalithaa losing her seat. There were multiple reasons for this defeat and Rajnikanth’s statement contributed to the atmosphere, but the episode serves as a reminder that a public confrontation with a powerful star is rarely advantageous for a politician in Dravidian politics.

Although Rajnikanth never formally entered politics, he made a film in 1998, Padayappa, where the antagonist was a woman—interpreted by many as a veiled reference to the ousted Jayalalithaa. In the years that followed, there was a reconciliation between the two, with Rajnikanth remaining officially apolitical, though he sporadically made statements in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until Jayalalithaa’s death.

NTR In Telugu politics, Rajkumar In Karnataka

In the world of Telugu politics, it was the most popular star of the time, NT Rama Rao (NTR), who toppled the Congress in 1983. While there was no narrative of the “persecution of the star” in the assembly battle back then, NTR capitalised on a narrative of the Congress hurting Telugu pride. This political victory still contributes to the stereotype of star power in Southern politics.

Generally, political leaders in Telugu, Tamil and even Kannada politics have treaded carefully when dealing with stars. For example, in Karnataka, Kannada superstar Rajkumar, who stayed away from politics throughout his life, played a significant role in the Gokak agitation for the Kannada language in the early 1980s. This movement contributed to the defeat of the then Congress Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao and the Janata Party’s victory in the 1983 state elections.

While not all stars have been successful in politics, there are enough historical lessons for southern politicians to avoid friction with a star—especially one at the height of his popularity.

What Reddy Can Learn From Stalin

Currently, Tamil Nadu is witnessing the rise of actor Vijay with his political party. Although Vijay has been critical of the ruling DMK, Chief Minister Stalin has refrained from engaging in a war of words. Stalin has even instructed his party, including his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi, to avoid getting involved in a public dispute.

Having been a witness to the history of Dravidian politics as the late Karunanidhi’s aide, Stalin understands that politically attacking a star only boosts his or her mass appeal and influence.  

While the Arjun Vs Reddy controversy isn’t electoral in nature—at least not yet—it remains unclear how such a public confrontation erupted in Hyderabad, given the deeply intertwined world of politics and cinema. With close connections, including family linkages, it’s hard to believe this was purely about the stampede. Whatever the reasons, history is a reminder for Revanth Reddy to avoid star-studded confrontations in the future. 

(TM Veeraraghav is Executive Editor, NDTV)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Hyderabad:

Telugu film producer D Suresh Babu told NDTV today that they are extremely satisfied with the meeting with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, held amid the huge row over the stampede at a Hyderabad movie hall. The Chief Minister has squarely blamed actor Allu Arjun and his team for instigating it and said actors, along with the police, are accountable for public order.  

“It was wholeheartedly satisfying meeting for everybody. It was one of  the best interactions between the Chief Minister and everybody… everybody spoke their hearts off… They said whatever they wanted and he was also very positive,” he said in an exclusive interview with NDTV.  

Eyewitnesses have made it clear that Allu Arjun’s team had unofficially made it clear that he would present at the Sandhya Theatre for the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’ on December 4. When the 3000-strong crowd started jostling for a glimpse of the actor, his bouncers had acted tough and escalated the crisis. 

A woman died in the stampede and her eight-year-old was critically injured in the stampede that followed, which sparked one of the biggest rows and political blame game in recent months. 

The Chief Minister and the police said that the Telugu superstar was present at the spot despite the denial of permission – allegations the actor has refuted. 

At the meeting today with the representatives of the film industry, who included Allu Arjun’s father, producer Allu Arvind, the Chief Minister said crowd-control is as much the responsibility of celebrities as it is that of the police. For their public appearances, actors have to work with the police, he added, underscoring that there will be no compromise on law and order.

The recent stampede at a Hyderabad movie hall that claimed the life of a woman, is not entirely the fault of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, the government and the police also had a role to play, an eyewitness of the tragedy has pointed out. Vijay who was at the spot on December 4 during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’, explained several aspects of the situation that have not been widely known so far. 

Speaking to NDTV, Vijay said, “It is not that Allu Arjun is completely at fault. So is the police and so is the government. It is the government who gave permission and who charges Rs 1100 per ticket and what did they give us in return? They gave us lathicharge… Instead of trying to blame each other, everybody has to own up to their mistakes”.

Close to 3000 people had gathered at the spot for a glimpse of Allu Arjun, whose PR team had made it “obvious” that he would be present for the premiere, he told NDTV.

The police station, he added, is just 1 km away from the spot where these 3000 people gathered. Even so, the police deployed only 20 to 25 personnel, who were assisting VIPs who came for the premiere, he said. 

“They were trying to make way for the VIPs to enter the theatre and there was no one to check the tickets, nor to control the crowds and there was no barricade or ropes,” he told NDTV.  

“My point here is that the police are overenthusiastic in trying to prevent any law-and-order situation. Why did they not send Allu Arjun back if they have not given any permission?” he said. 

Allu Arjun underwent a marathon 3-4 hour questioning session today. The police have indicated thye might question him again soon. 

After a woman ws killed and her son critically injured during the December 4 stampede, Allu Arjun was arrested but he got bail soon after. 

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has accused Allu Arjun of visiting the theatre without police permission and conducting a ‘roadshow’ even after the stampede. The police said he was not ready to leave even after knowing of the woman’s death.