Telangana Minister Allegedly Calls Colleague ‘Buffalo’; Caste Insult Controversy Arises
Tensions erupted during campaigning for Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills bypoll after BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar allegedly referred to SC Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman as a “buffalo” over his late arrival at an election event in Rahmath Nagar. Laxman, representing the Madiga caste, described the remark as a caste-based insult and demanded a formal apology.
In a six-minute video, Laxman expressed his hurt, stating, “As Laxman Kumar, he can abuse me, but abusing my caste is not correct. I am from the Madiga caste, which is why I serve as a Minister. If this continues, I will not be responsible for the consequences. A complaint will be sent from my caste representatives and in my capacity as Minister to Mallikarjun Kharge.”
Minister Denies Derogatory Comments
Ponnam Prabhakar denied the allegations, claiming his words were distorted and were meant to refer to delays in confirming his flight tickets rather than insult his colleague.
TPCC Intervention and Resolution
The controversy prompted Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud to intervene. Speaking with both ministers, he urged cooperation and coordination. Following his intervention, the issue was reportedly amicably resolved, avoiding further escalation during the election campaign.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the sensitivity around caste and political discourse in Telangana, underlining the importance of responsible speech and decorum by public officials. Prompt intervention by party leadership helped diffuse tensions before they escalated into a larger controversy.
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