PM Modi slams Congress for caste discrimination against Telangana Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka

NAGARKURNOOL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lambasted the Congress for demeaning Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, who belongs to the SC community, by compelling him to sit on the floor at Yadadri temple while other ministers were given chairs.

In a public address in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the BRS and the Congress for consistently disrespecting the Dalit community. He accused former Telangana Chief Minister KCR of betraying Dalits through the Dalit Bandhu scheme. Additionally, he condemned the Congress for allegedly opposing President Draupadi Murmu during Presidential elections, who hailed from the ST community, and mistreating their own Deputy Chief Minister from the SC community by relegating him to sit on the floor during recent events.

Also Read: Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes part in Malkajgiri road show in Hyderabad

During his address, Modi said that the people of the country had already declared the election results even before the official announcement of the election dates.

He said, "The election dates for Lok Sabha polls 2024 will be announced in Delhi in some time. However, people of the country have already announced the results even before the election dates are officially announced. The country has announced 'abki baar 400 paar', and the crowd here at Nagarkurnool is a testimony to that."

Prime Minister Modi launched a scathing attack against the present Congress government and the past BRS government saying, "The Congress and the BRS have shattered all dreams of Telangana. First, it was BRS' 'maha loot' and now it is Congress' 'buri nazar'. For the Congress, even five years is enough to destroy Telangana. He also said that no corrupt person will escape.

"I had visited Telangana during (2023) Assembly elections. At that time, I realised that people are really angry with the BRS. And today, I can see that the people of Telangana have decided to elect Modi again," he added.

PM Modi questioned whether there had been any change in the lives of the poor despite the Congress's slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' during their rule in the last seven decades. He said, "They gave the empty slogan of 'Garibi Hatao', yet took no action to uplift the poor. Instead of uplifting, they used SC, ST, and OBC communities as vote banks, yet did nothing to transform their lives."

He said, "Our schemes tend to benefit SCs, STs, OBCs, women and farmers the most. The Congress and the BRS have time and again protested against our initiatives. Under the guise of social justice, they indulge in corrupt politics. A wave of change was brought about when the country trusted Modi with a full mandate."

PM Modi referred to the 140 crore Indians as his family, saying, "For the past 23 years, whether as Chief Minister or now as Prime Minister, you have given me the opportunity to serve. I have never used a day for myself. If I have lived and worked tirelessly, it has been for my 140 crore family members. Modi's guarantee means the assurance of fulfilling the promises made."

PM Modi highlighted the BJP government's welfare achievements, saying, "In the last decade, for the first time, the poor were able to open zero-balance accounts, live in solid houses, access basic amenities such as tap water, electricity, toilets, and free vaccination. Villages were electrified, and 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty."

During his address, the Prime Minister said that 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty in the country during his tenure. Meanwhile, he also asserted that the same change has to be brought in Telangana.

Calling Telangana the 'gateway of the South,' the Prime Minister said that the development of the state had been a priority of his government at the Centre. He slammed the BRS and the Congress for not cooperating in Telangana's progress, asserting that the Congress, in particular, had a history of deceiving and exploiting the people of India, making it unlikely to prioritise Telangana's welfare.

He said, "Over the past 10 years, Telangana remained divided between policies of the Congress and the BRS. Both these parties have together crushed the dreams and aspirations of Telangana. It's concerning that after the loot of BRS, Telangana now has to suffer at the 'hand' of Congress."