A Day After Skipping Vizag Protests, Pawan Kalyan Comes Before Media, Beats Around The Bush

Jan 27, 2017, 10:17 IST

Once again, Jana Sena chief skirted the key issues.

He has in effect deflected criticism of Chandrababu Naidu by slamming Modi for ignoring South Indian sentiments.

He did not offer any explanation as to why he skipped the Jan 26 protests at Vizag.

Pawan Kalyan also did not speak a word about the police excesses on the young protesters at Vizag and elsewhere.

Film actor-turned-Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan came before the media a day after skipping the aborted protest at Vizag's RK Beach for Special Category State and said the Government should have given permission to the youth to hold the protest.

Pawan, who is being ridiculed in the social media for being busy in shooting Katamarayudu in Medak district, slammed Narendra Modi vehemently and chose to go soft on Chandrababu Naidu, who had crushed the protest with violent force.

He said one expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give a benevolent democracy to the country, but his rule is nothing but a dictatorial democracy.

He also sought to play up the North-South divide saying that South India will rebel against the North-centric elite leadership. He charged Modi government with trying to crush Dravidian culture. He said Jallikattu protests were a reaction to Modi's interferance, which the people did not like.

On Venkaiah Naidu, he said he should focus more on the people of the state rather than on Swarna Bharathi Trust, which his daughter runs. "Is Ram Mandir issue more important than the wishes of four crore people," he asked.

But, he was soft on Chandrababu once again and repeatedly said he had administrative experience, and sought to shield him saying the state was being ruled by the BJP by proxy. He however was harsh on Union Minister Sujana Chowdary for his comments that pro- Special Category Status protesters should organise pig races if they are so impressed by Jallikattu. He also slammed his 'friend' Rayapati Sambasiva Rao for being given the contracts of Polavaram project.