Hyderabad: A remark by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan has sparked a political controversy in Telangana, drawing sharp reactions from political parties, ministers and pro-Telangana groups.
The controversy erupted after Pawan Kalyan, reacting to the denial of permission for a public meeting in Hyderabad on Telangana State Formation Day, reportedly said that “regionalism is more dangerous than terrorism.” The statement triggered criticism from several quarters, with opponents accusing him of hurting the sentiments of Telangana people.
The Jana Sena Party had sought permission from Cyberabad police to hold a “Telangana Nav Nirman Sankalp Sabha” on June 2. However, police denied permission, citing concerns over law and order.
The issue gained further attention amid an ongoing debate involving political analyst and former MLC Prof. K. Nageshwar. Pawan Kalyan had also recently clarified and withdrawn certain remarks related to a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, following which legal complaints were reportedly filed against him in Andhra Pradesh.
Reacting to the latest controversy, Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar demanded that Pawan Kalyan apologise to the people of Telangana for his remarks.
Defending his stand, Pawan Kalyan said his comments had been misinterpreted and warned against attempts to spread misinformation. He asserted that his silence should not be viewed as weakness and maintained that he would continue to speak on issues he believes are important.
The controversy has triggered a fresh political debate in Telangana, with leaders across party lines weighing in on the remarks and their implications.
