Pawan skirts spl status issue

Vijayawada: The nearly two-hour long meeting between actor-turned politician and president of Jana Sena Pawan Kalyan and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday appeared to be more of a face saving attempt as Pawan failed to insist on the issue of special status to the truncated state. He also did not oppose the decision of the government on bauxite mining.

Pawan Kalyan arrived at the camp office at 11.30 am and was closeted with the Chief Minister for the initial one hour in the presence of Ministers Dr Kamineni Srinivas and Dr P Narayana. Later, it was a one-on-one between the two leaders. Going by what Pawan told the media later, he only posed certain questions expressing his apprehensions on land acquisition and bauxite mining. Naidu gave replies, which according to Pawan, were satisfactory.

The actor said Naidu had assured him that he would not forcibly take any land and would try to convince the farmers. Similarly, he said that with regard to bauxite mining, he said that he had requested the Chief Minister not to disturb and displace the tribals of Srikakulam district while taking lands for the bauxite mining project.

Pawan said that Naidu has assured him that nothing would be done in haste and the government would discuss with the local people and will arrive at a consensus.

Stating that the bauxite mining issue was first proposed by the late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy’s government, the Chief Minister said that the present government would protect the interests of the tribals and would not disturb or displace them.

When asked about the special category status promised to the State, Pawan Kalyan said that the Bharatiya Janata Party would have to deliver what was promised to the people during the elections. While evading a direct reply to the question whether he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek special category status, the Jana Sena chief said he was neither an MLA nor has the stature to do so or launch agitation for the same. He pinned hopes on the Prime Minister announcing the benefits to the State “in any name” and recalled Narendra Modi’s promise at the Amaravati foundation ceremony.

When asked how he expected the State government to meet the revenue deficit and develop if the Centre failed to help, Pawan Kalyan said that the government had to take some hard decisions and asserted that the Chief Minister would develop the State.

When his attention was drawn to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, the Jana Sena chief said it was too early for him to talk about it. He said the GHMC elections issue did not figure in the talks with the Chief Minister.

It is also said that the Chief Minister had requested the actor to help him in dealing with consolidating the Kapu base for the party. They also said to have discussed issues like reservations for Kapus and GHMC elections.

The TDP is feeling uncomfortable with the Kapu community even after the Cabinet decision to grant BC status was declared. Several veteran leaders from this community have been agitating demanding reservation for Kapus as promised by TDP during elections.