Even as the Ayyappa Deeksha is in full swing in the Telugu states, a meeting organized by the Atheist Society of India ( Bharata Nastika Samaj)on 29th December 2022 in Kodangal town of Vikarabad district in Telangana turned highly controversial, with one of the speakers Mr Bairi Naresh, made derogatory and insulting remarks about Hindu texts, Hindu Gods and in particular against Sri Ayyappa Swamy.
Thousands of devotees in Telangana have taken the Ayyappa Deeksha, which involves abstinence from alcohol and non-vegetarian food, observing celibacy, and offering prayers and bhajans in the mornings and evenings. The devotees observing the Deeksha usually stay at one place in the town for strict observance of Deeksha.
As the anti-Ayyappa Swami derogatory remarks became viral on social media, there were spontaneous protests, rallies and rasta rokos in several parts of Telangana by Hindus, especially the Ayyappa Swami Sanghas and by Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Multiple FIRs were lodged at several police stations across the state. SC organizations have questioned the use of Dr Ambedkar’s pictures in the meetings of Atheists. They lamented that such an act led to the tarnishing of the image of Dr Ambedkar.
Dalit singer and activist Mr Renjarla Rajesh, considered a mentor to Bairi Naresh and others, made many derogatory remarks about Hindu gods/ scriptures in the past. It is believed that larger anti-Hindu lobbies are operating in the state, consisting of ex-IPS officer R S Praveen Kumar, Kancha Iliah, Kadiri Krishna etc., and persons like Bairi Naresh are just the tip of the iceberg. In the past, Mr R S Praveen Kumar is known to have administered `Ambedkarite’ anti-Hindu pledges to several hundreds of people in big congregations. Similarly, several inflammatory and anti-Hindu speeches were made in meetings organised in the past. On several occasions in the past, these lobbies have invited leaders like Mr Tiruma Valavan, VCK Party Lok Sabha MP, for their meetings and functions, who insult Hindu Gods and Hinduism, thus inciting communal tensions in the society. It is also seen that Bairi Naresh has shared the dais with several major leaders of the TRS party in Telangana. Photos/ videos of the same have been circulating in social media currently. After massive protests, Mr Bairi Naresh and Mr Renjarla Rajesh have since been taken into custody by Telangana police.