Vijayawada: Social welfare minister Merugu Nagarjuna on Thursday condemned recent controversial remarks on Mahatma Gandhi by AP SC Commission chairman Victor Prasad.
“Neither the state government nor YSR Congress party can accept such remarks,” Nagarjuna clarified speaking to media persons here. He maintained that the SC panel chairman ought not have made the unfortunate remarks, as he is holding a constitutional post.
At a meeting held in West Godavari recently, Victor Prasad had used abusive language against the Mahatma. He alleged that Gandhi had favoured right to vote only for a few social groups and denied women the right to education.
The minister clarified that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy respects national leaders – Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Babu Jagjivan Ram and Jyotirao Phule. He recalled how the CM started ward / village secretariats in a bid to realise Gram Swarajya as conceptualised by Mahatma Gandhi.
Nagarjuna underlined that their government is according top priority to welfare of SCs, STs, BCs and minorities by initiating a series of welfare measures for them. He slammed opposition Telugu Desam for trying to target their government claiming it is not doing enough for welfare. He referred to various government schemes in this regard. He pointed out that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has set up 56 corporations for the benefit of BC communities. The CM made several leaders from these communities as ministers, MPs and offered several nominated posts to them.
Giving the background, the minister criticised TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh for talking about social justice. He told the two leaders that Telugu Desam has no future in the state.
