Congress Slams BJP For Criticising Caste Census

Telangana Transport and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar today said that the BJP lacked the moral authority to comment on the caste census, citing the party's affidavit to the Supreme Court opposing such a survey.

Addressing media personnel, he criticised BJP leader K Laxman, the national president of the BJP OBC Morcha and Rajya Sabha member, for alleging that the Congress-led State government was conducting the census for political gains. He asked Dr Laxman to clarify his stance and challenged him to pressure his party to conduct a nationwide caste census or risk being seen as betraying the OBC community.

The minister also took aim at leaders from the BRS, including former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, working president K T Rama Rao and former minister Harish Rao, accusing them of making disparaging remarks about the census. He blamed these leaders for failing to participate in the survey, and said that those who abstained had no right to comment on its findings.

Reaffirming the government's dedication to the welfare of marginalised communities, Prabhakar said that the comprehensive caste survey would not remain in cold storage but would be made public to inform policies for social and economic justice. He appealed to the opposition parties to refrain from politicising the issue and to cooperate with the government in ensuring justice for the backward classes.

The minister took the opportunity to also speak about the State's economic challenges over the past decade of the BRS administration, and claimed a significant increase in Telangana's debt, from Rs 72,658 crore to Rs 6.71 lakh crore, marking an 824.5% increase, during its reign. He said this surge had placed immense fiscal strain on the State's finances, impacting its debt servicing capabilities and limiting resources for welfare programs. However, he said that despite the financial stress the Congress government continued to be committed to implementing welfare initiatives and advancing the status of women in Telangana.