TELANGANA: Ministers Seek Pawan Kalyan’s Apology on Telangana
A lighthearted quip from Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan about an “evil eye” on Konaseema’s greenery has snowballed into a cross-border uproar, drawing fierce backlash from Telangana’s Congress brass.
What began as a casual nod to folklore during a farmer meet has now strained ties between the two Telugu states, with calls for apology echoing from Hyderabad’s corridors of power.
This spat, unfolding just days before local polls, lays bare lingering sensitivities from the 2014 bifurcation, where old wounds meet fresh political maneuvering.
The Spark in Konaseema
Kalyan, inspecting saltwater-ravaged coconut groves in East Godavari’s Razole, mused on the region’s fabled lushness.
He recalled how Telangana folks once hailed its beauty, even tying it to bifurcation debates, before adding with a wink that perhaps too much praise brought “dishti,” cursing the palms to wither like folklore’s black stone.
The off-the-cuff line, meant to console affected growers, quickly twisted into a perceived slight against Telangana’s gaze. Viral clips fueled the fire, turning a sympathetic stop into statewide scorn.
Congress’s Fiery Rebuttals
At Gandhi Bhavan, ministers and party heads unloaded on Kalyan’s words, branding them a betrayal of brotherly bonds.
Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy led the charge, vowing no screen time for Kalyan’s blockbusters without a swift mea culpa.
He evoked Telangana’s gritty past: decades of fluoride-laced taps and siphoned funds fueling Andhra hubs like Vijayawada, all while Hyderabad’s own dreams were deferred.
“Thirteen years on, such barbs sting needlessly,” he told reporters, half-joking that contrition could earn films a two-day run in Nizam theaters.
Animal Husbandry Minister Vakiti Srihari piled on, chiding the novice politician for immaturity despite his star power. “He can’t stomach our strides,” Srihari said, urging Kalyan to own the lapse and mend fences.
Voices from the Vanguard
PCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud struck a familial tone, insisting division needn’t breed division. “We’re kin, not foes; hold office responsibly, not hurl excuses,” he advised, eyes on preserving post-split harmony.
From Siddipet, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar flipped the script, questioning how drought-struck palms could fault Telangana’s admiration. “Blame cyclones, not us; let’s nurture ties, not tear them,” he pressed, demanding retraction to cool the rhetoric.
Jadcherla MLA J. Anirudh Reddy amped the edge, probing Kalyan’s Hyderabad haunts: “If our glance curses Konaseema, why linger here?” MLC Balmuri Venkat’s street-level threats added raw heat, though many see them as election-season bluster.
Jana Sena’s Steady Defense
Jana Sena swiftly circled wagons, decrying distortions by rivals like Congress’s Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who they accused of twisting context for gain.
The party statement from Amaravati stressed no malice toward Telangana or its kin, just a folksy lament for farmers’ plight.
They appealed for focus on real woes: crop losses from climate woes, not manufactured feuds. “Harmony prevails; don’t poison it with spin,” the note urged, eyeing the bigger canvas of shared Telugu heritage.
Ripples Across the Border
Observers whisper of tactical plays, with Telangana Congress channeling outrage to rally bases ahead of December’s sarpanch votes. Kalyan’s camp dismisses it as deflection from local gripes like land policies.
Yet, as barbs fly, the episode risks reopening old divides, reminding both states that folklore’s shadows lengthen when politics sharpens the lens. A simple sorry could douse the flames, but silence sows seeds for deeper rifts.