A statue of Lord Ram installed at Basheer Bagh Chowrasta in Hyderabad during Vijayadashami celebrations was removed on Saturday, 24th October, amid a row over its installation and a demand to rename the junction as “Sri Ram Chowk.” Police personnel were deployed in large numbers during the event.
The statue had been installed near the Kanaka Durga temple as part of its Navaratri celebrations. It was removed by the temple authorities following directions from civic officials and was loaded onto a truck early Saturday morning.
#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: Lord Ram statue removed from Basheerbagh X roads by officials, which was installed by Hindu organisations on the occasion of the Dussehra festival. https://t.co/jY6Bm3etRF
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2026
The matter began after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) national spokesperson and Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi (BGUS) general secretary, Dr Ravinuthala Shashidhar, appealed to people to refer to Basheer Bagh as “Sriram Chowk.”
The development triggered a scathing attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as Vishnu Vardhan Reddy stated, “The removal of Shri Ram statue in Hyderabad’s Basheerbagh, installed by Hindu organisations during Dussehra, shows Congress’s hatred towards Shri Ram. When it comes to Hindu faith & hating the Sanatan Dharma, Congress’s appeasement politics have no limits.”
The removal of Shri Ram statue in Hyderabad’s Basheerbagh, installed by Hindu organisations during Dussehra, raises shoes Congress’s hatredness towards Shri Ram. When it comes to Hindu faith & hating the Sanatan Dharma, Congress’s appeasement politics have no limits! https://t.co/ZUeHKeYHhc
— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) October 24, 2026
VHP leader appeals for the junction to be called “Sriram Chowk”
On 19th October, Shashidhar shared a video on X showing the statue and urged people to call the junction “Sriram Chowk.” He also said he would approach the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to seek a roof over the statue and formal recognition of the proposed name.
Shashidhar further encouraged his supporters to print a template letter and submit it to local authorities in large numbers, seeking the proposed changes.
బషీర్ బాగ్ కాదు, నేటి నుండి శ్రీరామ్ చౌక్! మన భాగ్యనగరం వైభవాన్ని, సంస్కృతిని చాటుదాం. ఈ చారిత్రక మార్పులో భాగస్వాములవుదాం! 🙏 No longer Bashir Bagh, from today it is Sriram Chowk! Let’s celebrate and showcase the glory and heritage of our Bhagyanagar. Be a part of this historic transition! #Hyderabad #SriramChowk #Bhagyanagar #Telangana @VHPDigital @VHPTelangana @BGUS_official @BJDLBhagyanagar
— Dr.Ravinuthala Shashidhar (@shashidhar147) October 19, 2026
On Friday, 23rd October, BJP leader and former Saroornagar corporator Akula Srivani also questioned the name Basheer Bagh, asking about the identity of “Basheer” and his contribution to society. She urged supporters to popularise the proposed name and also called for Hyderabad to be renamed Bhagyanagar.
I appeal to all my Hindu brothers and sisters: please print this letter and submit it to the concerned authorities in your area, requesting official recognition of the name “Shri Ram Chowk.” Each one of us must come forward. Together, through our united efforts, we can fulfil this shared aspiration. Our unity is our strength! Jai Shri Ram! 🚩
— Akula Srivani – Lady Singham (@akula_srivani) October 24, 2026
Action taken after Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader’s complaint
The Lord Ram’s statue’s installation drew objections from Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan, who alleged that it had been put up without permission from the GHMC and Hyderabad City Police.
Khan also complained to the authorities, following which civic officials directed the removal of the statue and questioned why no action had been taken earlier against the campaign to rename the junction.
Khan also demanded to know whether a formal proposal had been submitted to change the name of Basheer Bagh Chowrasta and whether the necessary permissions had been granted for the statue and any religious structure at the site.
