Revanth Reddy On PM: 'Modi Is Anti-BC, Does Not Belong To Backward Class By Birth', Says Telangana CM

A fresh political drama unfolded on Friday when Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not belong to the backward classes (BC) by birth and that he is "anti-BC by mentality".

"Though his (Modi) certificates may say he is BC, his mentality is anti-BC", Reddy alleged while speaking during a PowerPoint presentation on the caste survey conducted by the Congress government in the state and a Youth Congress meeting held at Telangana Congress headquarters.

Reddy's remarks on class and caste census came as the BRS had alleged that the Congress government was backstabbing the BCs with the caste survey showing a decline in the population of backward classes.

While the population of BCs was 51 percent as per an Intensive Household Survey conducted during the BRS regime, the caste survey shows it to be 46 percent excluding backward Muslims, BRS leader K T Rama Rao had said.

What All Did The Telangana CM Say?

"Modi ji says he is BC. Actually, Modi ji is not BC. (He is) legally converted BC. He made his community a part of the backward classes by making legislation after he became CM", he said, as per PTI. He also claimed that Modi's caste was a "forward caste" before he became the Gujarat chief minister.

"If Modi belongs to backward classes, why was the general census not conducted in 2021, and why the population of BCs was not determined?", Reddy asked referring to allegations that the data of caste survey was faulty.

He further added that the Centre should take up caste census as part of the general census. He alleged that the BRS and BJP are trying to find fault with the data of the caste survey for selfish purposes.

The BJP is trying to find fault with the data as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has already attacked the NDA government in parliament for not conducting caste census all over the country, would mount further pressure, he said.

The BRS, on the other hand, is trying to pick holes in the caste survey as it fears that backward classes would question its president K Chandrasekhar Rao over his family members having several posts during the BRS regime, he said.

CM Reddy Attacks Centre Over Funding Issues

Besides caste census issues, the Telangana CM also Attacked the Centre over not sanctioning funds and approvals to development projects for the southern state while the same has been sanctioned for states like Bihar and Gujarat.

"If we pay a tax of one rupee to the Centre, we get 42 paisa. If one rupee is paid, Bihar takes seven rupees, Uttar Pradesh gets three rupees. What sin has Telangana made? We are getting 42 paisa if one rupee is paid. Modi ji, you are taking 58 paisa of our fund," he said.

Stating that his government is observing restraint, he said an action plan would be taken up soon to fight against the Centre to secure its rights.