The municipal council of Rajasthan's Sirohi town was in a fix this Dusshera, when their 'Lord Ram' walked off the stage with his entourage, refusing to burn the effigy of Raavan, Hindustan Times reported.
Manoj Kumar Kali, the actor portraying the role of Lord Ram in the annual Ram Leela, instead blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party mandal president Suresh Sagarvanshi for politicisng every issue, calling him the 'actual Raavan'.
Accusing Sagarvanshi of getting in more money than other mandals in the town for festivities and indulging in petty politics, Kali told the Hindustan Times:
All the other committees get Rs 11,000 as grant while the one where Sagarvanshi is involved gets Rs 31,000. Moreover, even though the Dussehra programme was organised by the municipal council, most of the councillors were not present which again suggested petty politics at play.
Kali then trooped off the stage with 100-odd actors, all raising slogans against Sagarvanshi.
Upon Kali’s desertion, the organisers reportedly scurried about to get a child to dress up as Lord Ram and burn down the effigy.
Meanwhile, Sagarvanshi thwarted the accusations levelled against him. Speaking to HT, he said that the ruckus had been incited by some people. He then added that the committee will not accept the grant money next year, and will organise the festivities without the same.
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