On Friday, 14th February, Congress Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, triggered a political storm by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not born into the backward class. Reddy claimed that PM Modi is a “legally converted BC (Backward Class).” Reddy made the remarks during a Congress event in Hyderabad. His comments drew sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Several BJP leaders slammed Reddy for his comments, especially considering that he holds the top office in Telangana.
Telangana CM #RevanthReddy :
— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) February 14, 2025
“Modi (#NarendraModi) ji says he is BC, Modi ji is not #BC.. He is legally converted BC. In 2001 before becoming CM, his #caste was among the Upper classes in #Gujarat state. After becoming CM, he merged that caste into the BC. Narendra Modi was… pic.twitter.com/mU477wY6Tw
‘PM Modi was born upper caste’, claims Revanth Reddy
During his address at the Congress event, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy claimed that PM Modi was originally from an upper caste. He further asserted that his caste was recognised as Backward Class because of reclassification in Gujarat in 2001. He said, “I want to tell you one thing. PM Modi says he belongs to BCs, but he is not BC. He is a legally converted BC. In 2001, before becoming the Chief Minister, his caste was among the upper classes in Gujarat. After becoming CM, he merged that caste into BC. He was not born as BC. His certificate may be BC, but his mentality is anti-BC.”
BJP challenges Revanth Reddy for a debate
The BJP hit out at Reddy for his comments. Union Minister, and Telangana BJP chief, G Kishan Reddy challenged the CM to a public debate on the issue. He said, “Revanth Reddy is making such comments out of impatience as Congress is losing public support in the state and across the country.”
ప్రధానమంత్రి నరేంద్రమోదీ (@narendramodi) గారిపై ముఖ్యమంత్రి రేవంత్ రెడ్డి చేసిన వ్యాఖ్యలు అవగాహనారాహిత్యంతో కూడుకున్నవి.
— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) February 14, 2025
రాజకీయ విమర్శలు చేసే క్రమంలో.. ముఖ్యమంత్రి హోదాలో ఉన్న విషయాన్ని మరిచిపోయి.. నోటకొచ్చినట్లు రేవంత్ రెడ్డి అవాక్కులు, చెవాక్కులు పేలడాన్ని తీవ్రంగా…
Union Minister of State for Home, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, also criticised Reddy and questioned whether he knew the caste and religion of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He said, “He is talking about the PM’s caste as a desperate tactic to divert attention from Congress’ promise of 42% reservation to BCs.”
Yet another desperate diversion tactic from 42% BC reservation – now Congress CM wants to debate PM’s caste!
— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) February 14, 2025
Your research failed so badly that you forgot one fact – PM @narendramodi Ji was listed as OBC when Congress was in power in 1994.
Now, what caste is Rahul Gandhi?…
“Now, what caste is Rahul Gandhi? What’s his religion? Does he know, or do you? His grandfather was Feroze Jehangir Gandhi. In Hindu tradition, caste follows the father’s lineage. If anyone wants to debate legal conversion, maybe the Chief Minister should start from 10, Janpath,” he added in a post on X.
Kumar also pointed out that PM Modi’s OBC status was recognised in 1994 when Congress was in power in Gujarat.
‘Spitting at the sun’: BJP MP tells Revanth Reddy
BJP MP Etela Rajender told Revanth Reddy that attacking PM Modi would backfire. He said, “PM Modi transcends caste barriers. He is the pride of India on the global stage. Even the American President offers him a chair with great respect.”
రేవంత్ రెడ్డికి పోయేకాలం వచ్చింది. ప్రధాన మంత్రి శ్రీ నరేంద్ర మోదీ (@NarendraModi) గారిని తిడితే ఏమైతుందో కెసిఆర్ కి తెలిసింది.. త్వరలో రేవంత్ కి తెలుస్తుంది.
— Eatala Rajender (@Eatala_Rajender) February 14, 2025
భారత దేశంలో ఆసేతు హిమాచలం మోడీ గారిని విశ్వసించని ప్రేమించని వారు లేరు.
పేదరికం నుండి వచ్చిన వాడిని.. పేదల బాధలు అన్నీ… pic.twitter.com/jypkrrVDY8
Furthermore, he took a dig at former Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, and said that leaders who once insulted PM Modi later had to bow before him in Delhi. Rajender said, “Back then, KCR lost his composure and insulted Modi. But when he goes to Delhi, he calls him ‘our elder brother’ and seeks the Centre’s support. However, when he returns to Telangana, he speaks arrogantly.” He further accused CM Reddy of being “incapable” of managing his own party and said attacking Modi was akin to “spitting at the sun.”
The MP said, “PM Modi has no personal agenda. The people of this nation are his family. Those who criticised him in the past have faced consequences, and the same will happen to you.”
This is not the first time Revanth Reddy has courted controversy with his remarks about PM Modi. In January this year, he compared PM Modi to medieval Turkish invader Mahmud of Ghazni during a Congress rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow. At that time, the BJP strongly condemned his statement and called it “shameful.”
