Hyderabad: Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao defended Pawan Kalyan remarks on Telangana and questioned the criticism directed at the Jana Sena chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister.
Speaking at a Meet the Press programme in Hyderabad on Thursday, Ramchander Rao said he had not heard Pawan Kalyan make the statement attributed to him.
He said Pawan Kalyan had never spoken against Telangana. He also questioned why Congress and BRS leaders were objecting to the Jana Sena chief holding a public meeting in the state.
According to the BJP leader, Congress and BRS were reviving Telangana sentiment to divert attention from their own failures.
Pawan Kalyan remarks trigger political debate
Ramchander Rao asked what harm would have resulted if authorities had granted permission for Pawan Kalyan’s meeting.
He also questioned attempts to link the issue to the BJP. Further, he asked why ministerial posts were given to leaders who had opposed Telangana in the past.
The BJP state chief alleged that some parties were portraying the BJP as a threat in Telangana politics.
However, he claimed that Congress and BRS had caused greater damage to the state. He described the BJP as a growing political force in Telangana.
Ramchander Rao said Telangana served as the BJP’s gateway to southern India. He also claimed that the BJP had played a role in the Telangana movement through its participation in the Joint Action Committee.
The BJP leader alleged that both BRS and Congress had failed in employment generation and recruitment. He also criticised their handling of water-related issues.
He further alleged that Krishna river waters were being diverted to Karnataka.
Meanwhile, Ramchander Rao said the BJP had no connection with the Bhagiratha issue. He also dismissed reports of differences among Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, MP Eatala Rajender and MP Dharmapuri Arvind.