Thu Nov 07 00:53:57 UTC 2024: ## BJP MLA Sparks Controversy by Questioning Rahul Gandhi’s Caste and Religion

**Hyderabad, India -** Telangana BJP MLA A Maheshwar Reddy ignited a political firestorm on Wednesday, questioning the caste and religion of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Reddy’s comments came amidst the launch of the Telangana government’s comprehensive caste survey, a key election promise made by Gandhi.

Reddy, the BJP floor leader in the Assembly, argued that the Congress government was using the caste survey to deceive backward classes. He further claimed that Gandhi’s caste and religion should be made public before discussing the caste census.

“Who is Rahul Gandhi’s grandfather? Feroz Jehangir Ghandy,” Reddy stated. “In Hindu tradition, father gets grandfather’s caste and son gets father’s caste. He needs to state what his caste and religion are,” he added.

Reddy also demanded that the Congress government implement the promises made to backward classes in the ‘BC Declaration’, which included increasing the BC quota to 42 percent and spending Rs 20,000 crore for their welfare. He also vowed to abolish the 4 percent quota given to minorities within the BC category if the BJP comes to power.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president, B Mahesh Kumar Goud, strongly condemned Reddy’s remarks. He reminded Reddy of Gandhi’s acceptance across caste, religion and regional lines, and urged the BJP to advocate for the inclusion of OBC census in the next national census.

The controversy has added fuel to the ongoing political debate surrounding the caste survey, which the Congress government sees as a crucial step towards social justice and empowerment. The BJP’s vocal opposition to the survey and its questioning of Gandhi’s lineage are likely to further escalate tensions in the state.

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