Row Over Ram: Social Media Welcomes Telugu Film Critic’s Expulsion From Hyderabad For Hurting Sentiments

Social media has welcomed the ‘expelling’ of actor and film critic Kathi Mahesh from Hyderabad over his comments to a television channel, insulting Lord Ram and Sita.

Director-General of Police (DGP) M Mahendar Reddy was yesterday (9 July) lauded by a number of people on Twitter and other social media platforms, for holding a regional news channel which aired Mahesh’s views, responsible for the uproar.

Mahesh has been banned from entering the city for six months, for allegedly hurting the sentiments of people, which police felt, could threaten the law and order situation.

The DGP, who said Mahesh was brought to book for making "derogatory" statements on multiple occasions that led to hurting of sentiments of large sections of people and “adversely affecting the tempo of life”.

Reddy said a show-cause notice has been issued to the management of the channel for telecasting "malicious content hurting religious sentiments”.

However, some lawyers and civil rights activists backed Mahesh, claiming that criticism of god and religious practices are part of constitutional rights. They termed the move as the “rise of fascism, where people with differing views are exiled”.