Madhya Pradesh Minister Prahlad Patel has stirred controversy by comparing public demands and petitions to the government to “begging.”
Speaking at an event in Rajgarh district on Saturday, Patel, who serves as the Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development, claimed that this “army of beggars” was weakening society.
“People have developed a habit of begging from the government. Politicians come, they get a basketful of papers. They are garlanded on stage and a letter is put in their hands. This is not a good habit. Instead of taking, develop the mindset of giving. You will be happy and will build a cultured society. Gathering an army of beggars does not strengthen society, but weakens it. The attraction towards free things is not a mark of respect for these brave women,” Patel, a former Union minister, remarked after unveiling a statue of Rani Avantibai Lodhi at Suthaliya town.
“Can you name any martyr who has ever begged? Despite this, we continue to organise programmes, make speeches, and move on,” Patel said.
He added that as a “Narmada Parikrama pilgrim”, he asked for alms, but never for himself.
His comments, which were widely circulated on social media, triggered sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Jitu Patwari took to X, stating, “Residents of the state, arrogant BJP is now calling the public beggars! This is an insult to the hopes and tears of those in sorrow! They make false promises during elections and then backtrack. When people remind them of their promises, they call them beggars. Remember them well, many such faces of BJP will come to your doorstep again in some time, begging for votes.”
In another post, Patwari continued, “… If BJP calls a demand for rights begging, then the public must consider how those who beg for votes dare to openly call them beggars. If those who beg for votes and remain in power as traders of authority can call the public beggars, it would be a historic insult to public opinion! If those who pretend to be the ‘chief servant’ remain silent this time, then the public will have to prepare their own bitter pill for their pain.”
Leader of Opposition, Umang Singhar, also weighed in, saying, “It is duty of government and its ministers to serve the public. Patel is a senior minister. He & govt must clarify whether people of state are being referred to as beggars.”
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