Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. | Photo credit: File Photo
A simple message of solidarity from Human Rights Minister Nara Lokesh has sparked a larger debate about community harmony, political alliances and public accountability in the age of viral videos.
The controversy started after a disturbing video surfaced of the Medaram Jatara in Telangana, one of the largest tribal religious gatherings in the country.
A street vendor from Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district was allegedly forced by a group of YouTubers to eat a “metal bun” he brought for sale to prove he was not involved in what they called “food jihad”.
The incident, which was reported by The Siasat Daily, has sparked outrage across social media.
Many described the act as humiliating and baseless, accusing content creators of fueling general mistrust for online “views and likes”.
Labeling the message in a message that struck a softer, personal tone rather than combative, Mr Lokesh expressed regret that “Brother Vali had to endure such treatment”.
Amid the mounting anger, Mr Lokesh stepped in with a public message of support for the seller, identified as Vali’s brother. Expressing regret, the minister said that divisive and communal behavior has no place in Telugu society, which he described as rooted in harmony, mutual respect and brotherhood.
Adding a personal touch, he said he was looking forward to meeting Vali soon and tasting his “famous Khoya (sic) bun”.
The gesture was widely appreciated.
Dr. In his reply, Praveen appreciated Mr. Lokesh’s reach. “Day after day you impress us with your sincere gestures, Lokesh garu. More power to you,” he wrote, calling the message an affirmation of unity.
Another Netizen, ‘Who cares’ wrote, “Our Telugu society has always stood for harmony and respect. A few hateful voices cannot divide us. Stay strong Vali bhai.”
However, the response was not uniformly positive.
Hyderabad Intellectuals Forum welcomed this sentiment but questioned its political consistency. In a scathing statement, the forum argued that if divisive politics were to be truly rejected, the state government should reconsider its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which it accused of pushing polarizing narratives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The forum went further and urged Mr. Lokesh to “withdraw support from BJP and rewrite the tweet” if he really intends to disassociate himself from “communal politics”.
The episode has since evolved into a wider debate, not only about the harassment of a small vendor at a religious fair, but also about the responsibility of digital content creators, the fragility of community trust, and the expectations citizens place on political leaders.
A familiar digital firestorm ensued—hashtags, rebuttals, ideological crossfire. But beneath the noise lies a quieter truth: a small vendor at a crowded fair has become the focus of a larger conversation about dignity, digital responsibility and the fragile lines that divide communities.
Published – 15 Feb 2026 19:47 IST