Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) hit back at Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan over his remarks on Telangana, asserting that the state belongs to its people while remaining open to everyone.
Responding to Pawan Kalyan’s comments, KTR said no one had objected to the Jana Sena chief visiting Telangana. However, he questioned the decision to propose a public meeting in Hyderabad on Telangana Formation Day.
KTR said Telangana belonged to the state’s four crore people. At the same time, he maintained that anyone was free to visit the state.
KTR on Pawan Kalyan and regionalism debate
The BRS leader also rejected Pawan Kalyan’s reported remarks that regionalism was more dangerous than terrorism. He questioned whether the movement led by Potti Sriramulu for a separate Andhra state should also be viewed through the same lens.
KTR further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had diverted several industries from Telangana to Gujarat. He questioned what he described as “economic regionalism” under the guise of nationalism.
The former minister said the Constitution allowed anyone to form a political party and contest elections anywhere in the country. He pointed out that Jana Sena had already contested elections in Telangana in 2018 and 2023.
KTR also recalled Pawan Kalyan’s past statement that he could not eat for 11 days after Telangana’s formation. He said it was surprising that the same leader now claimed he was not opposed to Telangana.
The BRS leader asserted that Telangana did not require anyone other than BRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao to represent its aspirations. He described KCR as the original champion of Telangana.
KTR said he respected Pawan Kalyan as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He added that he would welcome him as a brother and as a film actor. However, he warned against what he described as attempts to exercise political influence over Telangana’s affairs.
పవన్ కళ్యాణ్.. ముమ్మాటికీ తెలంగాణ ఈ భూమి పుత్రుల జాగీరే.. ఇక్కడున్న నాలుగు కోట్ల మంది జాగీరే.
100% ఈ నేల కోసం కష్టపడ్డ వాళ్లు, ఈ నేల కోసం పోరాటాలు చేసినవాళ్లు, ఈ నేల కోసం త్యాగాలు చేసినవాళ్లు, నెత్తురుతో తడిచిన నేల ఇది.
ప్రాంతీయవాదం ఉగ్రవాదం కంటే ప్రమాదం అన్న పవన్ కళ్యాణ్ కు… pic.twitter.com/7FadGwGzzF
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