Telangana BJP Chief Accuses Congress and BRS of Using Minorities as Vote Banks

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Saturday accused the Congress and BRS of treating minorities as a vote bank, asserting that the Narendra Modi-led central government has prioritised their welfare through key central schemes.

Addressing the BJP Minority Morcha executive committee meeting at the Mahabubnagar district party office alongside local MP D.K. Aruna, Rao stated that the empowerment of minorities progressed significantly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office. He alleged that previous BRS and Congress administrations pursued appeasement politics for electoral advantages.

Rao stated that while minorities make up around 15 per cent of the population, their representation among beneficiaries in central initiatives such as PM Mudra Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, and Ujjwala Yojana stands between 22 and 37 per cent. He also highlighted the distribution of scholarships to crores of minority students as evidence of the Centre's commitment.

Criticising the Congress for divisive politics, Rao recalled historical figures from the Telangana Liberation Struggle, including Swami Ramananda Tirtha, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Vandemataram Ramachandra Rao, and Shoaibullah Khan, who opposed Nizam rule under the "Vande Mataram" slogan. He questioned the Congress party's regard for the national song.

Rao also raised allegations of sexual harassment against AIMIM MLC Mirza Rahmat Baig, terming the charges severe and seeking strict legal action alongside an impartial inquiry into past occurrences. He questioned why the Congress and BRS have remained silent despite previously backing an AIMIM candidate during Assembly quota polls.

Earlier in Hyderabad, Rao presided over a meeting of BJP MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and office-bearers at the party's state office. The leadership scheduled a two-day protest for September 5 and 6 against the 22A Prohibited Land List and issues surrounding fee reimbursement and scholarships impacting roughly 40 lakh students, while also reviewing plans for upcoming local-body elections.