Vijay Deverakonda booked under SC/ST Act over his remarks about tribal people during Retro pre-release event

Police stated that although the remarks, which likened the recent terror attack in Pahalgam to tribal conflicts from 500 years ago, were made in April, a case under the SC/ST Act was registered against the actor on 17 June following a complaint. "The actor made comments in April. However, based on a complaint, a case under the SC/ST Act was booked against him on 17 June,” a police official told PTI.

The complaint was lodged by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik, also known as Ashok Rathod, who serves as the State President of the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Communities. He alleged that during the pre-release event of the film Retro, which stars actor Surya, the actor made statements that hurt the sentiments of tribal communities and caused serious offence. Rathod further claimed that the actor’s comparison of tribal people to Pakistani terrorists was racially insensitive.

During the pre-release event of Surya’s film Retro, Vijay addressed the Pahalgam terror attack and said, “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.