Adluri Laxman demands apology from Ponnam Prabhakar over remarks on Madiga community
Hyderabad: Minister Adluri Laxman expressed gratitude to members of the Madiga community and caste associations who supported him directly and through social media following Minister Ponnam Prabhakar’s alleged body-shaming remarks. Laxman released a video on Tuesday in which he questioned Ponnam Prabhakar and Minister Vivek Venkataswamy over their behaviour during a recent event.
Adluri Laxman questions silence of ministers, warns of political fallout
In the video, Adluri Laxman asked whether speaking ill of the Madiga community had become acceptable to senior leaders. He said Ponnam Prabhakar should apologise for his comments if he truly respected others. “If he admits his mistake and seeks an apology, people will respect him more,” Laxman said. He urged leaders to refrain from personally attacking anyone in the future.
Laxman also criticised Minister Vivek for remaining silent when Prabhakar made the controversial remarks. “He calls himself a Dalit leader. How could he stay quiet when someone from his own community was insulted?” Laxman asked.
Laxman recalls Congress loyalty, slams leaders’ behaviour
He reminded that his family had supported the Congress since the days of Venkataswamy and worked to ensure the victory of Vivek’s son Vamsikrishna in Peddapalli. “We stood by them for years. Yet, they now talk down to one of their own,” he said.
Laxman clarified that he had informed organisers he would attend the Minority Welfare event at 3:30 p.m. as the department’s minister. He said he had even told Wakf Board Chairman that his team had skipped lunch to reach on time. When Prabhakar and Vivek called again to say they were starting early, Laxman told them he would join once he arrived.
Laxman warns of consequences if no apology comes
He said he rose from an ordinary Congress worker to become a minister without family wealth or central connections. “I am not a man of money or big background like Ponnam,” he said, adding that he had never spoken with such aggression in his career.
Laxman said he could never imagine Ponnam speaking about him in such a way. He also claimed that Vivek disliked sitting beside him because he had opposed the sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes. “We all work under one party. I only warned that public remarks like these could harm the Congress,” he said.
The minister added that he expected a call from Ponnam Prabhakar to discuss the matter privately, but it never came. “He can target me as an individual, but not the entire Madiga community,” Laxman said. He warned that if Ponnam failed to respond by Wednesday, he would be responsible for any political consequences.