HYDERABADBJP Telangana president N. Ramchander Rao accused the Congress of treating minorities as a “vote bank” and engaging in divisive politics, while claiming that the Narendra Modi government had ensured equal access to welfare and development programmes for minority communities.Addressing the BJP State Minority Morcha executive meeting in Mahabubnagar, Mr. Ramchander Rao alleged that the Congress had failed to address the concerns of minorities despite being in power for several decades. He appealed to Minority Morcha cadres to take the Union government’s welfare initiatives to people at the village and mandal levels.He claimed that 22% to 37% of the beneficiaries of various Central government welfare schemes, including the Mudra scheme, belonged to minority communities.Mr. Ramchander Rao also criticised the Congress over its Opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), alleging that the party had created misconceptions about the legislation.He said that the slogan Vande Mataram was not directed against any religion and described it as an expression of reverence for the nation.The BJP leader also alleged that successive Congress and BRS governments in Telangana had neglected minority welfare, including the Minority Finance Corporation. He further targeted the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), alleging that the party had entered into political arrangements with parties in power in the State.Mahabubnagar MP D.K. Aruna and several State and district BJP leaders participated in the meeting. Published - August 29, 2026 07:35 pm IST