• Source:JND
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Actor Vijay Deverakonda recently landed in legal trouble over his remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack and his alleged comment about the tribal community during the pre-release event of Suriya’s Retro in Hyderabad. A police complaint was filed against the actor. Now, Vijay has broken his silence on the controversy, clarifying that he had no intention to hurt or target any community.

Vijay Deverakonda took to his X handle and issued a official statement over his controvesial remark. His post read, "It has come to my attention that a remark I made during the Retro audio launch event has caused concern among some members of the public. I wish to sincerely clarify: there was absolutely no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, who I deeply respect and consider an integral part of our country."

Emhpashing what he meant, the actor stated, "I was speaking about unity - about how India is one, our people are one, and how we must move forward together. In what world would I, while urging us to stand united as a country, deliberately discriminate against any group of Indians - all of whom I see as my family, like my brothers. The word "tribe," as I used it, was meant in the historical and dictionary sense, referring to a time centuries ago when human society globally was organised into tribes and clans, often in conflict. It was never a reference to the Scheduled Tribes classification, which was introduced during colonial and post-colonial India and formalised only in the mid-20th century — not even 100 years ago."

He concluded his statement by stating, “If any part of my message was misunderstood or hurtful, I express my sincere regret. My only aim was to speak of peace, progress, and togetherness. I remain committed to using my platform to uplift and unify — never to divide."

What Did Vijay Deverakonda Say About Tribal Community?

During the Retro event, Vijay talked about deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. He 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.”

He further stated, "India doesn’t even need to attack Pakistan because Pakistanis themselves are fed up with their government and will attack them if this continues. They behave like tribals did 500 years ago, fighting without common sense."

However, his comments about tribals ignited debate and received backlash. After this incident, Hyderabad-based lawyer Lal Chauhan filed the complaint, alleging that Vijay compared the terror attack to ancient tribal conflicts as objectionable and offensive.

About Pahalgam Terror Attack: The horrific incident took place on April 22, 2025, when a group of gunmen opened fire on innocent civilians in the Baisaran Meadows, known as mini-Switzerland, in Jammu and Kashmir, turning heaven into pools of blood. In the attack, 26 tourists were killed, while more than a several were left injured.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Vijay Deverakonda is currently gearing up for the release of the much-awaited Telugu movie Kingdom. The movie is scheduled for release on May 30.

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