Andhra's Pawan Kalyan flays BJP-TDP for rule of fear

A day after the Andhra Pradesh government foiled a protest over denial of special category status to the state, Telugu actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Friday told the BJP and TDP that they cannot continue to rule by creating fear among people.

Kalyan flayed both the parties for going back on their word to accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh and accused them of pursuing opportunistic politics.

Dropping enough hints that he is gearing up for an active role in politics, the actor said if the state continued to be denied its right, he is ready to sacrifice his career and family to come on to the streets.

Kalyan took strong exception to the TDP-led government using police to foil the protest planned by youths in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

The actor, who had campaigned for the BJP-TDP alliance in the 2014 elections, also hit back at them for mocking him for lack of political experience.

"They did not ask my political experience when they took my support but now when I am questioning them over special status, they say that I have no political experience," said Kalyan, brother of megastar and Congress leader Chiranjeevi.

The actor claimed he supported the Bharatiya Janata Party and Telugu Desam Party in the hope that they will solve people's problems.

He recalled that the BJP had promised special status for 10 years while TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu had demanded it for 15 years.

Stating that a special package was not equal to special status, Kalyan wondered what was the hurry in announcing the package.

The actor once again targeted M. Venkaiah Naidu, saying he would not keep quiet if the union minister goes on saying whatever he likes.

Kalyan demanded a probe into the alleged corruption in government schemes and allegations of irregularities against Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary and TDP MP R. Sambasiva Rao.

He claimed that following the death of Jayalalithaa, the BJP had set its sights on power in Tamil Nadu but the youth gave it a strong reply through protests over Jallikattu.

The actor alleged that national parties always treated people in the south as their slaves. "They should know what happens when slaves revolt."

Kalyan said the south always faced bias and discrimination from the political parties and added that even the national media ignores the problems of the south.