Vijay Deverakonda Clarifies Remark On Tribal Communities

Following criticism on social media, actor Vijay Deverakonda has come forward with a clarification over his recent remark on Pahalgam Attack and respect for India's tribal communities. Vijay Deverkonda landed in a controversy for his comments during the audio launch of the movie 'Retro,' which were interpreted as demeaning towards tribal groups.

Deverakonda's comments were specifically under scrutiny due to a reference he made while discussing the Pahalgam attack in Hyderabad, leading to an official complaint against him under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The situation prompted the actor to issue a statement to address the misunderstanding and clarify his stance.

During the contentious 'Retro' audio launch, Deverakonda addressed the Pahalgam tragedy in Kashmir, suggesting that education and preventing indoctrination could serve as solutions to terrorism. He remarked, "The solution to what is happening in Kashmir is also to educate them (terrorists) and ensure they don't get brainwashed. What will they achieve? Kashmir belongs to India, and Kashmiris are ours. India doesn't even need to attack Pakistan because Pakistanis themselves are fed up with their government and will attack them if this continues. They behave like tribals did 500 years ago, fighting without common sense." These comments sparked the filing of a formal complaint by Hyderabad lawyer Lal Chauhan, alleging that Deverakonda's speech unjustly compared the current situation with historical tribal conflicts.

His statement emphasized his intent to promote unity within India and dismiss any notions of targeting specific communities. "It has come to my attention that a remark I made during the Retro audio launch event has caused concern among some members of the public. I wish to sincerely clarify: there was absolutely no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, who I deeply respect and consider an integral part of our country," Deverakonda explained. He further elaborated on his use of the term 'tribe,' stating that it was meant in a historical context, unrelated to modern classifications of Scheduled Tribes. "The word 'tribe,' as I used it, was meant in the historical and dictionary sense - referring to a time centuries ago when human society globally was organized into tribes and clans, often in conflict. It was never a reference to the Scheduled Tribes classification, which was introduced during colonial and post-colonial India and formalized only in the mid-20th century, not even 100 years ago," he clarified.

Deverakonda reassured that his intention was never to alienate or hurt anyone, focusing instead on the themes of unity and progress. "I was speaking about unity, about how India is one, our people are one, and how we must move forward together. In what world would I, while urging us to stand united as a country, deliberately discriminate against any group of Indians - all of whom I see as my family, like my brothers," he stated.

His message was one of peace and togetherness, aiming to uplift and unify rather than divide. The actor also expressed regret for any hurt his comments may have inadvertently caused, affirming his commitment to fostering unity and progress. "If any part of my message was misunderstood or hurtful, I express my sincere regret. My only aim was to speak of peace, progress, and togetherness. I remain committed to using my platform to uplift and unify - never to divide," Deverakonda concluded. This apology underscored his ongoing dedication to the upliftment of people and the unity of the nation as a whole.

The complaint against Deverakonda was lodged at the SR Nagar police station by Lal Chauhan, said reports.