"If Draupadi is the President who are the Pandavas? Popular director’s controversial tweet causes a stir

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma landed in controversy on Friday with his tweet. Telangana BJP on Friday lodged a case against the filmmaker for his alleged unsavoury comments against National Democratic Alliance’s candidate for Presidential election Droupadi Murmu.

In his tweet, Ram Gopal Varma wrote, “If DRAUPADI is the PRESIDENT who are the PANDAVAS? And more importantly, who are the KAURAVAS?” Varma tweeted. Reacting to it, BJP leader Gudur Narayana Reddy, filed a complaint at the Abid Road Police Station, accusing him of disrespecting the SC and ST community.”This tweet is tantamount to disrespecting the SC and ST people. Here, he calls ‘Draupadi’ the President. If he would have only mentioned Draupadi, Pandavas and Kauravas, we would have had no objections. We, the BJP workers, are hurt at such comments from RGV,” Reddy told. He also requested the police to register a case under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and demanded severe punishment for the director. Hyderabad Police said they would take necessary action after seeking legal opinion.

Following the backlash, Ram Gopal Varma clarified his intentions over the tweet, claiming that it was made in ‘earnest irony’ and was ‘not at all intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments.’ Adding to his previous controversial statement, he said, “This was said just in an earnest irony and not intended in any other way.. Draupadi in Mahabharata is my favourite character, but Since the name is such a rarity, I just remembered the associated characters and hence my expression. Not at all intended to hurt sentiments of anyone.”

Expressing angst over RGV’s remark, BJP MLA T Raja Singh said the director posts such tweets in a ‘drunken condition’. “Varma always tries to be in the news by making such controversial comments,” he added.