Film critic Mahesh Kathi who has been externed from Hyderabad, accused the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh units of BJP of using him as a platform to strengthen their party base. He also accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of destroying the social fabric of AP by aligning with the BJP.
Mahesh Kathi, who spoke against the Ramayana in a TV debate and sparked controversy, was ordered to leave Hyderabad by the Telangana police for his alleged derogatory statements which hurt sentiments of the Hindus.
Mahesh who has been communicating to his followers through social media since, on Thursday, accused the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Yuva Morcha of attempting to attack him during his visit to his hometown--Chittoor. He said that the local VHP leaders were planning to attack him in a bid to attain state-level significance.
In a live video on Facebook, Mahesh, said, “Wherever the BJP wants to comes into power, somehow they create a political conspiracy or a sport to galvanize the vote bank. Historically, this is what they have always done. This is not something new,” he alleged.
Further claiming that the BJP has strengthened its cadre through the RSS and VHP, including Chandrababu Naidu, he said, “The upper castes are with BJP, the political parties are also with the BJP ... In the past four years, through Shakhas, the RSS and VHP, they have consolidated the Backward Classes in Andhra Pradesh and strengthened their cadre. There is no doubt in it. Because of Chandrababu Naidu aligning with the BJP, the social fabric of Andhra Pradesh has been damaged a lot, which will affect the state in the long-term.”
He said that the VHP Yuva Morcha attempted to attack him in Pileru and subsequently attempted to attack him in Madanapalle by obstructing his vehicle during his recent visit to Pileru.
Accusing the BJP of being an anti-Dalit and anti-women party, Mahesh said, “There is no doubt that the BJP has become a dangerous party in Andhra Pradesh. They anyway don’t respect democratic values or believe in the Parliament or care about the Constitution. They only believe in their shastras, which oppress Dalits, women and the marginalized sections of society.”
Though Mahesh has been externed only from Hyderabad and was sent to Chittoor, his hometown, by the Telangana police, the Andhra Pradesh police, fearing law and order problems, advised against Mahesh’s entry into the state. He is presently residing in Mysuru, Karnataka.
Mahesh was externed from Hyderabad on June 9 under the Telangana Prevention of Anti-Social and Hazardous Activities Act, 1980.
While participating in a live debate on a regional news channel about a sedition case filed against rationalist Babu Gogineni, defending Gogineni, Mahesh said, “For me, Ramayana is just another story…I believe Rama is as much a cheater (dagulbhaji) as he is ideal in that story. And I think perhaps Sita would have been better, might have gotten justice if she had stayed with Ravana. What’s wrong with that?”
This later snowballed into major controversy after Hindu seer Paripoornananda called for violence against him, and subsequently, both Mahesh and Paripoornananda were externed from Hyderabad for creating unrest in the state with their controversial comments.