'Why Hasn't He Started OBC Welfare Ministry': BRS, Cong Hit Back At PM Modi Over Telangana Speech

The veteran leader said that among the four chief ministers of Congress-ruled states, three belong to the backward class.

File photo of Telanagan IT Minister KT Rama Rao

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Congress and BRS on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on backward communities in Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.

In MP, PM Modi said that Congress never allowed the talented leadership of SC, ST, and OBC communities to emerge.

Disagreeing with his statement, veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that among the four chief ministers of Congress-ruled states, three belong to the backward class.

"It is absolutely wrong. Out of four Chief Ministers (of Congress-ruled states), three are from the backward class," Singh told ANI.

#WATCH | Indore, MP: On PM Modi's statement, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says, "It is absolutely wrong. Out of four Chief Ministers (of Congress-ruled states), three are from the backward class..." https://t.co/IRBHYqq0o2 pic.twitter.com/HV4g1xpuDk

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2023

Addressing a poll rally in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi earlier in the day, PM Modi said, "Congress promoted only those who attended the Delhi Darbar. Congress never allowed the talented leadership of SC, ST and OBC communities to emerge. It is their mentality, because of which, they keep abusing Modi day and night. While abusing Modi, they have started abusing the entire OBC community."

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, PM Modi said that Congress and BRS will never make a backward caste candidate the Chief Minister of Telangana.

Speaking on OBC representation, Modi said, "(In 2014) when you gave full majority government, the country got its first OBC PM. BJP is the only party in the country which gives maximum representation to the OBC community. There are 27 OBC ministers in the NDA government at the Centre, which is the highest since independence. Today BJP has 85 OBC MPs in the country, 365 OBC Assembly members in the country. Today BJP has 65 OBC Legislative Council members in the country."

Telangana Minister and BRS leader KT Rama Rao slammed PM Modi for his statement and questioned why the BJP-led central government was not conducting the "OBC caste census."

"If PM Modi wants the welfare of the OBC, then he should answer why he has not started the OBC Welfare Ministry yet. He also has to answer why he is against the OBC caste census... People will not trust such 'Jumla'... Last time, BJP won one seat out of 119, this time, they might not even get that," he said.

#WATCH | Hyderabad: On PM Modi's statement, Telangana Minister and BRS leader KT Rama Rao says, "If PM Modi wants the welfare of the OBC, then he should answer why he has not started the OBC Welfare Ministry yet. He also has to answer why he is against the OBC caste census...… https://t.co/qq4uJyy3MH pic.twitter.com/RmVzglLryV

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2023

BRS leader K Kavitha also sought to know why the central government was against conducting caste census and said her party has always raised its voice for the welfare of the BC community.

On PM Modi attending a 'BC Atma Gourava Sabha' in Hyderabad, she said the BRS has consistently demanded establishing a separate ministry for OBC welfare and "a separate budget declared for OBC welfare" besides quota for backward classes in legislatures.

"PM Modi ji came to Telangana to specifically declare about the BC and the schemes related to OBC community in Telangana, because of election here," the BRS MLC said.