Hyderabad: Hyderabad’s Animal Husbandry Minister, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, issued a public apology to Rajesh Kumar Babu, the chairman of Bhainsa agriculture market committee, on Friday. The apology comes after an incident during the inauguration of a steel bridge at Indira Park on August 19, 2023. A video that went viral depicted the Minister grabbing Rajesh Babu’s collar and pushing him aside.
This incident escalated tensions, particularly among tribals across the State, especially in Rajesh Kumar Babu’s hometown of Adilabad. The Scheduled Tribes (STs) community expressed their anger by burning effigies of the Minister and demanding an unconditional apology for the alleged mistreatment of a tribal member.
As the incident took on political undertones, Minister Srinivas Yadav personally reached out to Rajesh Babu via phone to express his regrets. He also released a video statement to the media, explaining the circumstances that led to his actions. According to the Minister, there was a large crowd during the inauguration, and Rajesh suddenly appeared in front of him, accidentally stepping on his toe and causing it to bleed. In pain, the Minister admitted to pushing him aside.
Srinivas Yadav admitted that he was unaware of Rajesh Babu’s identity as the AMC chairman from Bhainsa until the video went viral. He emphasized that he promptly reached out to apologize once he realized the situation. The Minister emphasized his commitment to the welfare of marginalized sections of society and his active participation in events like the Sevalal and Komuram Bhim birth celebrations in Telangana.
He concluded by expressing his heartfelt apologies if his actions had hurt the sentiments of the ST community. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting all individuals, regardless of their background or position.+
