The opposition BRS has strongly criticised the Congress government’s move to remove Endowments Minister Konda Surekha from the Telangana cabinet, with former minister Srinivas Goud calling it appalling that a BC woman minister was being ousted from her post.
Goud accused the Congress government of acting vindictively against BCs, making these remarks while speaking alongside former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy at the “BRS Rythu Garjana” meeting in Narayanpet district’s Kosgi. The meeting was organised under former MLA Patnam Narender Reddy as a protest against the Congress government’s 1,000 days in power.
Goud alleged that while many Congress MLAs and senior leaders openly speak against the government and the Chief Minister without facing any consequence, only a BC woman leader was singled out and removed from her position, which he said reflected the true stance of the Congress party. He questioned whether there was one rule for certain ministers within the party and another rule altogether for Konda Surekha.
He pointed out that despite corruption and commission allegations against several sitting ministers in the current cabinet, with no action taken against them, the harsh treatment meted out to Surekha alone pointed to an anti-BC mindset prevailing within the government.
Goud further alleged that the Congress party had been betraying BCs in various ways ever since coming to power, and that leaders from weaker and marginalised sections were being made scapegoats even in removals from office. He said that while Surekha’s ouster is technically an internal Congress matter, the people and BC communities across the state are closely watching this injustice done to a strong BC leader.