Hyderabad: Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar strongly criticized BJP MLA A Maheshwar Reddy’s statement that suggested the Congress government would collapse if the BJP welcomed its members. He said this at a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan. Prabhakar stated that no one can underestimate a government elected by the people and that he is ready to face any challenges that may arise. He questioned the basis for Reddy’s claims about the government’s downfall and whether he had some sort of foresight like an astrologer. Prabhakar also mentioned the BJP’s past opposition to the formation of Telangana and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s negative comments about the state, showing a lack of genuine care for Telangana from BJP leaders.
Prabhakar emphasized that if the BJP really cared about Telangana, the Modi government should fulfill the promises made to the state in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act. He also highlighted the declining popularity of the BJP at the national level compared to the Congress party’s focus on development and welfare of marginalized communities. The Minister criticized the BJP for historically neglecting backward classes and not giving them significant leadership roles within the party. He pointed out that the BJP’s promise to appoint a Chief Minister from the backward classes in Telangana before elections was just a tactic to gain votes, which ultimately failed. Prabhakar stated that the BJP does not prioritize the development of backward classes.