Naidu Defends Pawan Kalyan Against Telangana Leaders' Criticism
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday strongly backed Jana Sena chief and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, opposing remarks made by some political leaders in Telangana against the latter. Naidu described such comments as “inappropriate” and cautioned that they could create unnecessary tension between people of the two Telugu states.
Noting that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been separate states for nearly 12 years, Naidu said there was no need for political leaders to make statements that could fuel regional sentiments and hostility. “It is not a good practice to make such remarks against Pawan Kalyan. Unnecessary issues should not be created through irresponsible comments,” he added.
The controversy arose after Pawan Kalyan planned a public meeting in Hyderabad on June 2, coinciding with Telangana state formation day. The Telangana government initially denied permission, but the Jana Sena chief approached the Telangana High Court, which granted approval. Subsequently, Pawan held a media conference at his residence in Hyderabad, where his comments drew angry reactions from Telangana leaders, including those from Congress and BRS.
Naidu emphasized that people are well aware of contributions made by leaders and individuals from different regions and “do not need lessons from politicians attempting to raise regional issues for political gain.” He pointed out that political leaders frequently campaign outside their home states, citing his own visit to Tamil Nadu for election campaigning, where Congress leader and Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar also participated. “Telangana has both Congress and BRS. The BRS even launched its activities in Andhra Pradesh after declaring itself a national party and spoke about expanding to other states. I do not understand why some leaders are now making such statements. This is not correct,” he said.
Naidu also highlighted the achievements of Telugu people worldwide, noting that many hold constitutional and leadership positions in countries like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. “Telugu people are occupying important positions across the world and serving under the constitutional frameworks of those countries. Leadership is determined by service to the people, not by regional identity. Those who serve people effectively emerge as leaders wherever they are,” he added.
Calling for a “constructive political culture,” Naidu urged leaders to compete in the fields of development and public service rather than engage in divisive rhetoric. “The focus should be on delivering better governance and providing improved services to the people,” he opined.
