‘Buffalo’ remark sparks caste row in Telangana Cabinet

A governmental tempest has erupted successful Telangana aft Backward Classes (BC) Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar — portion speaking to his Cabinet workfellow astir punctuality and beingness — allegedly referred to his different colleague, Scheduled Caste (SC) Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar arsenic a ‘buffalo’, during a byelection run lawsuit successful Jubilee Hills connected Sunday (October 5, 2025).

The comment, wide circulated connected societal media, was made erstwhile Mr. Prabhakar was getting acceptable to code a property league on with different Minister G. Vivek. Mr. Laxman Kumar was expected to articulation the property league and the hold seemingly annoyed Mr. Prabhakar. According to the video, helium was seen whispering to Mr. Vivek astir consciousness of life, worth for clip and said, ‘He is simply a buffalo, what does helium cognize astir it?’. Later, helium was seen speaking to elder person Mohd Fahim sitting connected the different side.

The audio was recorded by the TV channels arsenic they prepared to broadcast the property league live, and aboriginal circulated connected societal media, accusing Mr. Prabhakar of disrespecting his Cabinet workfellow with an objectionable comment. Though Mr. Prabhakar did not notation the sanction of Mr. Laxman Kumar successful the video clip, it is assumed that helium was referring to Mr. Laxman Kumar, a Dalit leader.

After the video went viral with the absorption Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders spreading it and questioning Mr. Prabhakar’s behaviour, Mr. Laxman released a video expressing his anguish implicit the alleged insult and demanded a nationalist apology from Mr. Prabhakar.

“As Laxman Kumar, helium tin maltreatment me, but abusing my caste is not correct. I americium from the Madiga caste. He should apologise immediately,” Mr. Laxman Kumar said, threatening to instrumentality up the contented with the enactment precocious command, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge. “If helium had criticised my work, I would person taken it successful my stride. But his remark targeted my community,” Mr. Laxman Kumar said successful the statement.

Ponnam Prabhakar claims video was manipulated

Mr. Prabhakar, a Backward Class leader, however, powerfully denied the allegations, claiming the video was ‘manipulated’ and his words were taken retired of context. “I ne'er utilized immoderate caste-related slur. My comments were astir punctuality and not astir anyone personally,” helium said successful a statement, blaming the Opposition for “trying to make divisions wrong the Congress.”

As the contented turned into a murky occurrence involving 2 Cabinet colleagues, sources said, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy held a gathering with some ministers to defuse tensions. Later, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud spoke with some leaders and urged them to support restraint. The State Congress main besides announced that the contented had been resolved.

Both leaders hail from Karimnagar territory with power among BC and SC groups. The contention comes astatine a delicate clip for Congress, erstwhile it is getting acceptable to look the Jubilee Hills by-poll and besides the agrarian section assemblage polls.