Pawan Kalyan’s remarks sting Congress leaders

HYDERABAD: Police used mild force to avert a clash between Praja Rajyam and a group of Youth Congress activists on Wednesday in front of the PR office. The Youth Congress members led by their president T.J.R. Sudhakar Babu came to the office with flowers in Gandhigiri-style to protest the remarks made by Yuva Rajyam president Pawan Kalyan against Congress leaders.

Mr. Kalyan, while addressing the participants in a dharna against corruption on Tuesday, had hit out at senior Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. He alleged that most of the ruling party leaders had criminal record and described one of them as “traitor”.

As agitated Congress workers were close to the PR office, police stopped them. Raising slogans, they staged a sit-in. Many PR activists cordoned off the entrance with a rope and raised counter-slogans.

As the shouting continued, a PR functionary received the flowers presented by the Congress activists. However, the situation threatened to turn ugly when PR activists surged forward, jostled and pushed, forcing police to use mild force.

Meanwhile, stung by Mr. Kalyan’s “sweeping remarks”, Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president D. Nagender led a demonstration at APUWJ office at Basheerbagh, where the agitated cadre slammed the actor’s effigy with footwear and burnt it. 

Incensed by the verbal attack, Energy Minister Mohd. Shabbir Ali said he would file a defamation suit against Mr. Kalyan. 

He sought an unconditional apology. The Minister said he was ready to face any punishment if it was proved that he had sold or leased out Wakf property. Party leaders, including APCC president D. Srinivas, described the actor’s comments as ‘immature’. 

Mr. Sudhakar Babu charged Mr. Kalyan with trying to provoke the youth. APCC spokesperson N. Tulasi Reddy questioned the PR leader’s commitment to the youth’s welfare as the Common Man’s Protection Force floated by him, had become defunct. 

Standing by his statement, Mr. Kalyan said Congressmen were agitated because his remarks were not “false”. 

Senior PR leader T. Seetharam accused Congress activists of trying to attack the party office and condemned their action. In a democracy, everybody had a right to express their opinion and if they were hurt they should protest in a democratic manner, he added.