Hyderabad: Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, responding strongly to the latter’s remarks made during a press conference in Hyderabad.
Addressing the media, Ponnam Prabhakar took exception to Pawan Kalyan’s statement questioning whether Telangana was anyone’s “personal estate.” In a sharp rebuttal, the minister said Telangana belongs to its people and is the collective legacy of the state’s four crore residents. He alleged that Pawan Kalyan’s comments reflected arrogance and questioned his attitude toward Telangana and its society.
The minister also criticized Pawan Kalyan’s political standing, claiming that the Jana Sena chief himself had acknowledged his limitations in Andhra Pradesh politics. He asserted that Telangana has never opposed the people of Andhra Pradesh and reiterated that the state remains open to investments from all regions. Referring to the state’s investment-friendly environment, Ponnam Prabhakar said Telangana welcomes investors irrespective of their place of origin.
Escalating his criticism, the minister described Pawan Kalyan as a “paid artist” and questioned his contribution to Telangana’s statehood movement and subsequent development. He argued that the Jana Sena chief had never played a significant role in Telangana’s struggles and accused him of attempting to gain political mileage through recent statements.
Ponnam Prabhakar further alleged that political forces were trying to script a new role for Pawan Kalyan in Telangana politics and mocked the Jana Sena chief’s remarks as politically motivated. While clarifying that Pawan Kalyan was free to visit Telangana, he maintained that attempts to establish a political base in the state through controversial comments would not be accepted.
The minister also referred to Pawan Kalyan’s past remarks concerning late revolutionary balladeer and activist Gaddar and urged social organizations to examine the Jana Sena leader’s record. He warned that Telangana’s political leadership would strongly oppose any statements perceived as insulting or hurtful to the sentiments of the state’s people.
The sharp exchange has further intensified the political war of words between the Congress government in Telangana and the Jana Sena leadership, adding a new dimension to the ongoing debate over Pawan Kalyan’s political ambitions in the state.