Shadnagar MLA Veerlapally Shankaraiah Faces Backlash Over Offensive Remarks Against Velama Community
A disturbing incident has emerged involving Shadnagar Congress MLA Veerlapally Shankaraiah, who was caught on video using offensive language to threaten members of the Velama community. The video, which went viral on Friday, December 6, shows Shankaraiah making provocative statements that have sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about his conduct as an elected representative.
In the video, Shankaraiah can be seen threatening the Velama community, seemingly directed at BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao’s family. He states that if they attempt to conspire against the Congress government, there will be severe consequences, including physical violence. The MLA specifically mentions that he would personally launch attacks against the community members, even suggesting that such actions could take place without the chief minister’s approval.
“As the Shadnagar MLA, I’m telling you, I myself will resort to physical attacks against you Velamas,” Shankaraiah can be heard saying in the video, using inappropriate and derogatory language that is uncharacteristic of a public servant.
The timing of these comments is particularly controversial, as they were made on the day of Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s death anniversary, a day that holds great significance for social justice and equality in India.
The comments have drawn sharp criticism from several quarters, including from BRS MLC K Kavitha, who is from the Velama community. Kavitha questioned whether Shankaraiah’s remarks reflected the official stance of the Congress party and sought clarification from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud. She asked whether they endorsed such divisive and inflammatory statements made by one of their representatives.
Shankaraiah, a known ally of Congress leader Revanth Reddy, has been a controversial figure in local politics. In the 2018 assembly elections, he contested from Shadnagar on a BSP ticket but lost to Yalganamoni Anjaiah of the BRS, securing only 27,814 votes out of a total of 1,66,527 votes. However, in the 2023 assembly elections, Shankaraiah won by a narrow margin of 7,128 votes against Anjaiah, securing his position as the MLA.
The video and the inflammatory remarks have raised serious questions about Shankaraiah’s behavior and his responsibility as a public figure, with many demanding swift action from both the Congress leadership and local authorities to address the matter.
