Kathi Mahesh Externed From City For Comments On Ramayana

The Telangana police have externed film critic Kathi Mahesh for six months from Hyderabad for his comments against the Ramayana and Lord Rama, which upset many people of the Hindu community and threatened to endanger the law and order situation in the state.

Speaking to mediapersons on Monday, Director General of Police M Mahendar Reddy said that Mahesh had been taken out of the city and dropped off at his native place in Chittoor district.

"We will not condone any actions that threaten the peace and order in the state, and have decided to take stern action against people making provocative statements. We have banished Kathi Mahesh for six months initially. If he attempts to sneak into the city, he may be kept in jail for three years," Reddy said.

He added that the police of both the Telugu states would work in unison to deal with such anti-social elements.

The DGP also said that a show-cause notice was served on a television channel which repeatedly telecast the interview of Mahesh. After receiving an explanation from the channel, suitable action would be taken against the channel under the provisions of the Cable TV Network Regulation Act, he said.

Reddy said that any comments made on the social media or in the print medium or on TV channels which had the potential to escalate tension in society or hurt the sentiments of the people would be viewed seriously and action initiated.

He also pointed out that there had not been a single violent incident in Telangana in the last four years as the Telangana police was working sincerely and leaving no stone unturned in maintaining peace and law and order in the state. "Under no circumstances will we allow mischief mongers to engineer unrest in the state," he said.

Earlier, the police also placed Swami Paripoornananda under house arrest in Hyderabad. The seer had planned to lead a "Dharmagraha Yatra" from July 9 to 11 from the Siva temple in Bodduppal to Yadadri by chanting Sri Rama sankeertanas to protest against the comments made by Mahesh. There were heated arguments between Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists and the police at the seer's residence.