Row Erupts Over Tejasvi Surya’s Telangana-Partition Comparison
Responding to the comment, Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar here on Thursday urged the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to expunge inappropriate remarks made by MP Tejasvi Surya in Lok Sabha
Hyderabad: Leaders across parties have criticised Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya's comments in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, comparing the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and the formation of Telangana to the violent partition of India and Pakistan.
Addressing the Lower House of Parliament during discussions about the controversial delimitation Bill tabled today, Surya said, "Why are Opposition parties and some regional parties of the South, led by the DMK, making so much noise? The tears they are shedding are crocodile tears. I thank heaven that in 2026, when the country undertakes delimitation, the BJP-led Centre will carry it out. The Congress government divided Andhra Pradesh into two parts, and they did worse than the British in partitioning the country."
Responding to the comment, Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar here on Thursday urged the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to expunge inappropriate remarks made by MP Tejasvi Surya in Lok Sabha.
In a letter to the Speaker, the Minister said, “I wish to place on record my strong objection to the remarks made by Tejasvi Surya during the recent proceedings of the House. During his intervention, the Member drew a comparison between the bifurcation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and the partition of India and Pakistan.”
“This analogy is not only factually untenable but also deeply insensitive and inappropriate in the context of parliamentary discourse. The formation of Telangana was the outcome of a democratic and constitutional process, reflecting the legitimate aspirations of its people,” he said.
“Equating this with the traumatic and violent partition of the nation diminishes the sanctity of that process and disregards the sentiments of the people of Telangana. Such comparisons are unnecessary and carry the risk of fostering regional discord, misrepresenting historical and constitutional realities, and undermining the spirit of unity and cooperative federalism that underpins our democracy,” he said.
“Statements of this nature fall short of the standards of responsibility and decorum expected from Members of Parliament,” the Minister said requesting the Speaker to order the expunction of the remarks from the official records of the Lok Sabha.
He urged the Speaker to direct the Member to tender an unconditional apology to the House and to the people of Telangana. Examine the matter under the applicable rules governing conduct and privilege, and initiate appropriate proceedings.
Consider suitable action, including disqualification from membership of the Lok Sabha, should the remarks be found to constitute a serious breach of privilege and parliamentary decorum. It is essential to uphold the dignity of the House and ensure that its proceedings do not give rise to regional disharmony or distortion of constitutional history, he added.
Telangana Jagruthi President K Kavitha slammed Surya's comments on social media, and alleging that his comments are "not only insulting all those who fought for Telangana over six decades to fulfill the region's aspirations and end the discrimination", but also "dishonoring the memory of the thousands of individuals who sacrificed their lives to make Telangana a reality." She also questioned BJP leaders from Telangana, including G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay and Eatala Rajender, asking them to "Speak Up or Resign."
Former BRS Minister Harish Rao Thanneeru said that the BRS party condemned Surya's comments, and demanded an immediate and unconditional apology from Tejasvi Surya and the BJP on the matter.
