Riteish Deshmukh reacts to BJP's remark on father, says "can't be erased"

Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh issued a poignant and emotional response on Tuesday to remarks made by Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan regarding his late father, former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. In a video statement shared on social media, the 47-year-old actor addressed Chavan's claim that the memory of the veteran Congress leader would be "wiped out" from Latur. With folded hands, Riteish stated that while written names can be erased, those etched in the minds and hearts of the people who lived for them are permanent.

The controversy erupted after Ravindra Chavan, while addressing party workers in Latur—the Deshmukh family's political stronghold—expressed confidence that the BJP's rising influence would eventually overshadow Vilasrao Deshmukh’s legacy. Chavan’s statement, "100 per cent the memories of Vilasrao Deshmukh would be wiped out from this city," was intended to galvanize BJP workers but instead triggered a massive political backlash across the state.

The Congress party was quick to condemn the remarks, accusing the BJP of trying to undermine a leader who dedicated his entire life to the development of Maharashtra. In a statement from Mumbai, the party asserted that many had tried to erase Vilasrao’s impact in the past but were ultimately "shown their place" by the people of Latur. The opposition argued that such comments reflect the BJP's lack of respect for stalwarts of the soil.