The BRS and Dalit organisations on Monday accused the Congress government in Telangana of practicing caste discrimination after a visual emerged of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other upper caste ministers sitting on stools while Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu and another minister Konda Surekha were seated at a lower level at Yadadri temple.

While Bhikramarka belongs to a Dalit community, Konda Surekha hails from a backward class. The other ministers such as Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, along with the chief minister, all belong to the upper caste.

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The BRS immediately attacked the Congress with its social media team circulating the visuals with digs at Rahul Gandhi who is on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha demanded an apology from the chief minister. “In a temple where everybody should sit equally, Bhatti Vikramarka garu and Konda Surekha were sitting below (ground) while upper caste leaders were sitting on stools – is it not an instance of discrimination…? Revanth Reddy should immediately tender an apology,” she said.

BSP state president RS Praveen, who is a former state president, pointed out that it was also a gross violation of the protocol since the deputy chief minister should have been seated beside the chief minister. He said Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu was an alumnus of Hyderabad Central University and a veteran legislator. “Being a Dalit seems to be the only sin he has committed,” said Praveen.

Wondering whether Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge faced the same humiliation every day, he demanded, “Mr Revanth garu, if you have any sensitivity towards human dignity, you will come out in the open on this sordid episode and take action on the culprits on this gross violation of protocol which happened in the most sacred place. Or resign your post.”