Mega Telugu star and Jana Sena Party chief, Pawan Kalyan, feels stabbed not only in the back, but also in the stomach. In his second public meeting in less than three weeks, the actor and politician accused the BJP government of giving the state of Andhra Pradesh “stale laddoos” with the ‘Special Package’ announced earlier this week.
Andhra Pradesh people had been seeking special status to the state but after keeping them in hope for over two years, the Prime Minister finally thrust two stale laddoos in their hands.Pawan Kalyan, Actor and Jana Sena Chief
The 45-year-old actor, who supported the Telugu Desam Party-BJP combine in the 2014 elections is not thrilled with the Centre. He has vowed to fight till Andhra Pradesh is granted special status as promised.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday announced this “special package” for Andhra Pradesh which has all the benefits of a ‘special category state’ status, but without the official tag.
Kalyan asserted that Andhra Pradesh has been “stabbed twice” — once in the stomach by the Congress, which approved the state’s bifurcation, and then in the back by the BJP, who had promised it special status.
Kalyan was addressing the ‘Andhrula Atma Gourava Sabha’ (Andhra’s self-respect) rally.
You could not do justice either to Andhra Pradesh or Telangana. You denied special status to Andhra Pradesh and could not even give a High Court to Telangana.
Recalling that BJP passed a resolution in 1996 in Kakinada favouring division of Andhra Pradesh, Kalyan said it was not honouring the commitment (to grant special status) made in Parliament.
Doesn’t the commitment made by all parties in Parliament hold any value? Is your party resolution greater than the Constitution or Parliament?
The special financial package for Andhra Pradesh includes full funding of Pollavaram irrigation project, tax concessions and a special assistance, but stops short of giving the state a special status.
(With inputs from PTI and NDTV)
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