The viral video sparked controversy, with unclear reasons for Bhatti's lower perch — a shortage of equally tall stools or a deliberate decision.
Screengrab of the temple proceedings. (Screengrab)
Dalit leaders are up in arms over the apparent seating disparity at the famous Yadagirigutta Temple in Bhuvanagiri-Yadadri district. Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, an SC (Mala), found himself seated on a stool noticeably shorter than those occupied by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and fellow Cabinet colleagues Kommareddy Venkata Reddy and N Uttam Kumar Reddy. A video of the seating arrangement during special prayers to Lord Narasimha Swamy on Monday, 11 March, has gone viral.
The viral video sparked controversy, with unclear reasons for Bhatti’s lower perch — whether a shortage of equally tall stools or a deliberate decision. Criticism primarily came from the BSP and the BRS. The two parties have entered into an alliance in Telangana ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Embarking on his first visit to the temple since its grand reopening by former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao in March 2022 (for a whopping ₹1,800 crore), Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accompanied by his wife and other ministers, set out to present silk robes to the presiding deity during the 11-day Brahmotsavams.
Upon their arrival at the temple, the dignitaries received a warm welcome with traditional honours, including poornakumbham and statues of the presiding deity. The subsequent special pooja at the sanctum sanctorum, where the officials sat on a row of stools, revealed a visual disparity, with Vikramarka appearing lower-seated, evoking criticism.
Temple sources clarified that Vikramarka politely declined to sit next to Revanth Reddy, as suggested by Venkata Reddy, choosing to sit at the end of the row. As all VIP seats were occupied, authorities quickly procured an available stool for Vikramarka, “inadvertently” shorter in height. Despite the circumstances, Vikramarka sat on it until the completion of the pooja and the priests gave them the ashirvachanam, dispelling any intentional disrespect.
Temple sources questioned why one would assume there was a motive behind placing a shorter stool for the Deputy Chief Minister, expressing bewilderment at the suggestion of disrespect. They clarified that it was the only available stool amidst a massive crowd, emphasising that the choice was inadvertent, with no intentional attempt to be indecorous.
However, despite this justification, the BSP and the BRS vehemently criticised the Revanth Reddy government.
BSP state president RS Praveen Kumar, in a statement on X, said that Batti was humiliated in the presence of God. He said, “It is an insult to the Deputy Chief Minister in the presence of God. The BSP has been fighting against the insult of this nature,” he said.
దేవుడి సాక్షిగా ఉప ముఖ్యమంత్రికి అవమానం….!
ఈ అవమానాలు లేని భారతం కోసమే బీయస్పీ పోరాటం.@Bhatti_Mallu pic.twitter.com/zpSZZuBmEE
— Dr.RS Praveen Kumar (@RSPraveenSwaero) March 11, 2024
BRS Dalit leader and former MLA Balka Suman also took to X to hit out at Revanth Reddy, describing him as “naya deshmukh” (landed gentry) who despised and exploited Dalits.
He said that Revanth Reddy was only showing his true colours by making Bhatti Vikramarka sit at his feet, which was his nature. In the past, he had said his ilk was destined to rule while the SCs, STs, and BC should remain under their thumb.
He added, “He has humiliated Dalits and other weaker sections. It is not enough for the Congress to have a Dalit as its president. The party should introspect and realise how its Chief Minister is treating the SCs and other weaker sections.”
యాదాద్రి లక్ష్మీ నరసింహస్వామి సాక్షిగా డిప్యూటీ సీఎం భట్టి విక్రమార్కకు తీవ్ర అవమానం. pic.twitter.com/hNFU5nr8ie
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) March 11, 2024
(Edited by Kamna Revanoor)
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