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BJP, Congress make light of Pawan’s remarks
Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan’s comments against the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the Congress had no takers in the capital. Though Pawan Kalyan was critical of both the parties, while being soft to the ruling Telugu Desam, the two parties took him lightly and seems to be in ‘wait and see’ mode.
Vijayawada: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan’s comments against the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the Congress had no takers in the capital. Though Pawan Kalyan was critical of both the parties, while being soft to the ruling Telugu Desam, the two parties took him lightly and seems to be in ‘wait and see’ mode.
The BJP ridiculed the Jana Sena chief’s comments against the party on granting Special Category Status to the State. He said that the development works of Modi government would speak for the BJP’s commitment to develop the State. “Pawan Kalyan or any other leader or party has no right to question the integrity of the BJP and its leadership. What they are doing now is for their political existence and not in the larger interests of the State,” said BJP State general secretary Jammula Shyamkishore.
He said that the BJP had fought for the interests of the State at the time of bifurcation when all parties were silent. Even today, the BJP was doing everything to develop the State, while other parties were talking only about Special Status issue, he said.
Shyamkishore said that devolution of 42 per cent share to the States from the Centre and the introduction of GST Bill have changed the financial relations between the States and the Centre. The States were set to get greater share of funds and there was no need for Special Status for any State, the BJP leader said.
The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken up the State as a special case and had already done so much for the State. “We have given 10 Central institutions out of 11 promised for the State in a record time of two years. Modi government is ready to do much more. My request to Pawan Kalyan is not to mislead people and create political unrest in the State,” Shyamkishore said.
Another senior BJP leader U Srinivasa Raju said “I want Pawan Kalyan or others to debate on the benefits of Special Status in the light of new economic policies.” He also sought to advise the Jana Sena chief to wait for the Central government’s package before speaking for political gains.
City Congress president and former legislator Malladi Vishnu took strong exception to the Jana Sena president’s remarks against the Congress. He said that the Congress has been fighting for the Special Status right from day one. “We collected one crore signatures and sent water and soil samples to the Prime Minister.
We also introduced private member bill in Rajya Sabha. We gathered support of 11 national and regional parties in favour of Special Status to the State. What more they want from the Congress? What are they doing when we were fighting for the cause?” he asked. Vishnu sought to advise the Jana Sena chief to fight against the BJP and the TDP to get Special Status rather than misleading people by criticising the Congress.
