Chandrababu Naidu Counters Pawan Kalyan’s Charge on Special Status

Vijayawada: Seeking to counter Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan’s criticism that the TDP was probably afraid of the CBI and hence not raising its voice for special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday asserted that he was scared of none.

Though Kalyan did not name him, Naidu chose to address the former on the issue saying, “Pawan Kalyan should remember that I am not afraid of anyone”. At his public meeting in Tirupati on Saturday, Kalyan wondered what was preventing the TDP from fighting for the rightful demand of special status to the state. “They are apparently afraid that the Centre will set the CBI on them (TDP). Do you have anything to hide that you are so scared? Speak out, stall Parliament and achieve special status,” Kalyan said.

They are apparently afraid that the Centre will set the CBI on them (TDP). Do you have anything to hide that you are so scared? Speak out, stall Parliament and achieve special status.

Addressing a public meeting in Anantapuram district on Sunday evening, the Chief Minister recalled the Maoists’ attack on him at Alipiri in October, 2003. “I was not even scared for my life. I never went back on anything. So, there is no question of me being afraid of anyone or anything,” Chandrababu remarked. Separately, TDP MP from Anantapuram J C Diwakar Reddy lashed out at the actor-politician saying the latter was speaking without any comprehension of the subject. “He neither has the age nor experience. He better not live in an illusory world,” the veteran politician cautioned.

Anakapalli MP M Srinivas, whom Kalyan targeted by name, reacted strongly in Visakhapatnam saying he was not born with a golden spoon unlike the star. “I came up the hard way in life and earned wealth. It is not right for him to speak about it. As MPs we have been doing everything to secure special status to the state,” Srinivas said. On Saturday, Kalyan asked the Centre not to look at some rich MPs of TDP and deny special status to AP. Srinivas was one of those he named.

PTI