‘Buffalo’ remark row: Telangana minister to approach Congress high command

HYDERABAD: Telangana Scheduled Castes and Scheduled group Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman said he would approach the Congress high command over remarks allegedly made by his cabinet colleague and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who purportedly referred to him as a “buffalo.”

The comment was reportedly made on October 5 during a campaign event in the Jubilee Hills constituency when Laxman arrived late. Party leader and former MLA Mothkupalli Narsimhulu also criticised Prabhakar, questioning how “a minister could hold such a low opinion of Dalits.”

BRS shares video of remark

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Krishank shared a video of the incident on X, stating: “Congress Minister calls his colleague, Scheduled Caste Minister Adluri Laxman, a buffalo who has no value for life for being late to their election campaign in Rahmath Nagar of Jubilee Hills Bypoll.” Krishank later claimed that the livestream of the event had been deleted and posted a screenshot of it. The video circulating online reportedly shows Prabhakar quietly making the remark before the start of a press conference.

Party faces internal discord

The controversy has drawn sharp reactions within the Congress, with Laxman maintaining that he would raise the issue formally with the party leadership. No official statement has yet been issued by Prabhakar or the state Congress leadership. He further said he would soon meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan to explain his position. “Is it wrong that I was born in my community? Do Dalits deserve such humiliation?” he asked. Adluri also expressed anguish that Vivek, whom he had supported politically for years, did not speak up. “We helped Vivek’s son win as MP. Our family’s association goes back to Kaka Venkataswamy’s time. Yet, Vivek’s behaviour is shocking,” he said.

The minister’s remarks have triggered sharp reactions and unrest within the Congress, coming at a time when the party is preparing for key local elections.