File picture of Madhya Pradesh Minister Prahlad Patel.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Prahlad Patel on Monday (March 3, 2025) said his statement that people were getting used to “begging” the government was not “controversial” even as the Congress announced State-wide protests against it.
Mr. Patel, a former Union Minister, also sought an apology from Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, accusing him of being “greedy for publicity” for slamming his March 1 remarks.
“The statement is not controversial. Congress president Jitu Patwari has made a mistake in the greed for [media] publicity. He should apologise to my leadership and my party,” Mr. Patel told news agency ANI, adding that it was a social event of his caste group and that he had often spoken against the use of drugs and greed among the people of his caste.
At an event in Rajgarh district’s Suthaliya on Saturday (March 1, 2025) Mr. Patel had said, “People have now gotten used to begging the government. When politicians come, they are handed a bundle of documents. As soon as they get on to the stage, [people] garland them and place a petition in their hands. These are not good habits.”
Slamming the remarks, Mr. Patwari on Sunday (March 2, 2025) alleged that it was the “mindset” of the entire BJP and sought Mr. Patel’s resignation from the State Cabinet.
On Monday (March 3, 2025), Madhya Pradesh Congress media in-charge Mukesh Nayak also said his party workers would stage protests at district headquarters across the State on March 5.
“Our protests will continue until Prahlad Patel resigns. His statement is unbecoming of a leader,” Mr. Nayak said.
However, Mr. Patel defended his remarks and said people of both the BJP and the Congress were present on the stage during the event.
Mr. Patel further said, “I have been speaking strictly against drugs and greed among my workers and people of my own caste, and will continue to do so.”
Meanwhile, the BJP leadership is yet to comment on the ongoing controversy over the matter.
Published – March 04, 2025 01:52 am IST
