Political novice Pawan Kalyan
gets booster shot from Modi

Telugu super star Pawan Kalyan may rank high in the popularity charts of Tollywood, but he is a political novice who after floating a party christened ‘Jana Sena’ (People’s Army) a few weeks ago, is yet to find his moorings in the big bad world of politics.

But the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi thinks otherwise. “Nobody can destroy Telugu pride and spirit so long as there are people like Pawan Kalyan around. I am sure there are hundreds of Pawan Kalyans out there both in Telangana and Seemandhra who will fight to keep Telugu pride intact,” Modi said, heaping praise on the actor-turned-politician at public meetings in Nizamabad and Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Referring to Pawan Kalyan as his friend, the BJP leader said: “He came to meet me in Ahmedabad with tears in his eyes over the way in which the UPA government went about the state’s bifurcation process. He said he would support me. I was touched by his sincerity, and I realized that such people will contribute to the development of both Telangana and Seemandhra.”

Pawan Kalyan, in his speech, described Modi as a competent and disciplined leader. “I have come only because of Modi. In fact, when I launched ‘Jana Sena,’ many people who I considered close to me distanced themselves saying that my party was more a ‘Modi Sena.’ What is wrong in supporting a competent leader who has the capabilities to lead the nation towards progress?” he asked, and said the nation needed a strong leader like Modi.

Taking on the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), he said there was no denying the fact that the party played a role in the revival of the separate statehood movement. The party, however, had lost all credibility after it ditched the Congress on its merger promise. “Before the Telangana bill was placed before Parliament, KCR went to the BJP leadership and sought its support for the bill, which it extended. And now, he calls the BJP a communal party,” Pawan Kalyan, said.

“With BJP set to form the government in New Delhi and Modi as prime minister, with what face will the TRS leader go to the Centre and seek assistance for the development of the new state after having bad-mouthed the party?’ he wondered.

Referring to the TRS claim that people born outside Telangana and living in the new state were outsiders, he said: “Yes. I was born in Guntur district, but it was Hyderabad which gave me a new life. Telangana runs in my blood and nobody can deny me this pleasure,” Pawan Kalyan said.

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