Mudiraj community up in arms against BRS leader for offensive comments, seek apology
ADILABAD, KARIMNAGAR, WARANGAL: Adilabad BRS MLA Jogu Ramanna joined the public chorus, condemning his party colleague, and MLC, Padi Kaushik Reddy, whose comments against the Mudiraj community went viral, creating deep resentment against the ruling party among the community.
As per reports, two days ago, Kaushik Reddy allegedly attacked a local reporter, identified as Bandi Ajay. The BRS leader is alleged to have threatened Ajay’s family, abused him on the basis of his community, Mudiraj, and pointed out that Huzurabad BJP MLA Etala Rajendar also hailed from the same community.
A purported video clip of the incident went viral on social media, leading to widespread criticism from various sections of people, especially from members of the Mudiraj community, against both the MLC and the BRS.
Condemning comments made by Kaushik Reddy, members of Mudiraj Maha Sabha took to burning his effigies in all districts. They are also gearing up to take up a series of protracted agitations across the state and intensify the movement until the BRS suspends him from the party and removes him as MLC.
Burning the effigy of Kaushik Reddy at the Peddapalli Bus Stand on Sunday, Maha Sabha district president Pilli Shankar said that Kaushik Reddy, after getting the MLC seat in a “wrong way”, was behaving arrogantly and like a goonda, was attacking people and insulting people in the name of their communities.
“Since Huzurabad MLA Etala Rajendar belongs to the same community, Kaushik Reddy is targeting the Mudiraj community, forgetting that the community is recognised as one of the largest Backward Class communities in Telangana. We will teach him, and the BRS, a fitting lesson, if he does not apologise openly to the people of the Mudiraj community,” Shankar said.
Speaking to the media in Hanamkonda, the state general secretary of the association Dr Jagadishwar Prasad alleged that Kaushik Reddy was not only attacking and threatening common people but also mediapersons.
Ramanna, meanwhile, strongly condemned Kaushik Reddy’s comments and castigated him for the alleged illegal detention of a reporter.
The MLA said that Kaushik Reddy’s act was nothing but an insult to all the BC communities.
The Adilabad MLA also met leaders of the Mudiraj community, who gave him a memorandum on the issue of Kaushik Reddy’s comments insulting the community. They sought action against him and warned of agitations.
Ramanna said elected representatives like Kaushik Reddy should not show their anger against an entire community, adding that such comments would bring a bad name to the party.
The MLA promised Mudiraj community leaders to bring the issue to the notice of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and ensure appropriate action against Kaushik Reddy, both legally and on behalf of the party.
In an earlier incident, during the decennial TS formation celebrations, Kaushik Reddy is alleged to have abused a farmer at a Rythu Sadassu meeting in Jammikunta, when questioned about his failure to waive farm loans, as promised earlier.
