MP: Congress Stages Demonstration Against Minister Prahlad Patel’s Beggar Remark

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Congress block unit demonstrated at block headquarters across the state against minister Prahlad Patel’s ‘beggar remark’. At several places Congress workers and police came face to face during demonstrations, a party leader said here on Thursday.

The controversy erupted after a video of Patel's speech at the unveiling ceremony of Veerangana Rani Avantibai Lodhi's statue in Rajgarh district surfaced on March 1.

In the video, Patel is heard saying, ‘People have developed a habit of begging from the government. Leaders arrive and they are handed a basket full of petitions’. Since then the Congress is attacking the minister and also the state government on the remark.

Congress state general secretary Sanjay Kamble informed that Congress leaders gathered at the block headquarters and raised their agitations. The party workers demanded resignation from the minister. The programme was held at 1006 party block headquarters.

In most of the places like Jabalpur, Satna, Satwas, Burhanpur Mandsaur, Narmadapuram and other places, effigies of the minister were torched. On Saturday, the agitation will be held at district headquarters and on March 10 at state capital Bhopal an agitation will be held, he said.

BSP president slams Patel

BSP president Mayawati in her message attacked the minister’s remark. She said, ‘The minister had insulted crores of people, first they gave little amount of ration to them and took votes. They formed the government and now they are addressing them as beggars. This is not good’. She further said that top BJP leaders did not take any cognisance on his statement, which is a matter of sorrow.