‘Ram’ actor calls MLA Ravan, doesn’t burn effigy

Hundreds of people flock to watch the Ramleela organised by the municipal council in Rajasthan’s Sirohi town on Dussehra, a Hindu festival that marks the victory of good over evil, every year.

This year, however, there was a twist in the tale.

The actor portraying the role of Lord Ram refused to shoot the arrow to burn the effigy of Ravan during Ramleela, the popular drama that enacts the Hindu deity’s battle to kill the 10-headed demon king to rescue his wife Sita.

Instead, Manoj Kumar Mali, the actor portraying the Hindu god, called the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) mandal president in Sirohi, Suresh Sagarvanshi, the demon king.

“The actual Ravan is sitting on the stage, politicising every issue. Given this scenario, Lord Ram has to return disappointed,” said Mali.

He alleged that the committee presided over by Sagarvanshi gets more money as a grant from the municipal council than all the other committees.

“Sagarvanshi is known to do politics over trivial issues. In Sirohi there are around 20 Garba committees that organise cultural programmes during Navratri,” Mali told the Hindustan Times.

“All the other committees get ₹11,000 as grant while the one where Sagarvanshi is involved gets ₹31,000. More-

JAIPUR:

HT PHOTO The Ramleela party in Sirohi, which returned without burning the effigy of Ravan, seen on stage.