Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan walked right into a cross-state border controversy with a comment considered by Telangana political leaders as accusing them and the individuals of their state of casting an “evil eye” on the luxurious greenery of Andhra’s Konaseema area.

Throughout a go to final week to Razolu in Konaseema—the Godavari delta area recognized for its rice manufacturing and coconut groves—Kalyan instructed farmers {that a} deformity plaguing 1000’s of coconut bushes, with their crowns falling off leaving simply the trunks in place, was the results of “dishti” or evil eye.

The remarks, which went viral on social media, reignited interstate rivalry and regional sentiments 11 years after the cut up of Andhra Pradesh, notably in Telangana, which is heading for panchayat polls quickly.

Kalyan’s feedback have kicked off a political firestorm in each Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A number of Telangana legislators and ministers have demanded that he “retract his imbalanced feedback”. The opposition Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Social gathering (YSRCP) in Andhra requested if the JSP chief was a deputy CM holding portfolios like surroundings, forest science & know-how, or an “occult practitioner”.

From Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders, to Congress legislators and ministers, many have slammed Kalyan’s feedback as “immature” and “insensitive”.

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Demand for apology

Congress MLC Balmoor Venkat mentioned that Kalyan had “misplaced his psychological steadiness”, demanding an “quick apology to each Telanganite, or else there could be a state of affairs the place Kalyan could be chased out of Hyderabad and the state by the identical youth, public who patronaged his movies”.

“We received’t let his films play right here,” the previous NSUI chief mentioned Monday.

BRS chief Jagadish Reddy mentioned an individual within the deputy CM’s place ought to apply his thoughts whereas talking publicly and have management over his tongue. “It’s individuals from Andhra who come to see Hyderabad, we don’t go there,” he instructed reporters at BRS occasion workplace.

Telangana minister for cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy mentioned Kalyan’s films wouldn’t be allowed within the state if he didn’t apologise.

“We don’t know if it was inadvertent or intentional to harm, disrespect the individuals right here, however we’re pained by his remarks. We Telanganites suffered injustice for 60 years, being a part of the united AP. We have been compelled to drink fluoride-affected water (within the Nalgonda area, due to the lopsided priorities by then rulers),” Komatireddy instructed reporters Tuesday.

Another Congress ministers, together with Ponnam Prabhakar and TPCC chief Mahesh Goud, additionally requested the favored movie star and politician to retract his remarks.

On Tuesday, senior YSRCP chief and former AP minister Perni Venkataramaiah, whereas chatting with the media at Tadepalli, requested if Kalyan was talking as a “sorcerer”.

“Kalyan’s feedback that Konaseema coconut bushes have been dying due to Telangana individuals’s evil eye have been made in his capability as a minister or was he speaking as a sorcerer? As an alternative of speaking nonsense, spreading superstition, because the deputy chief minister, he ought to get some consultants from Kerala and discover a treatment for the illness affecting the bushes,” mentioned Perni.

With the occasion chief caught in a storm of assaults from throughout the state border and brickbats inside Andhra Pradesh, the JSP launched a two-line assertion Tuesday night, saying that Kalyan’s remarks had been twisted and misinterpreted.

“At a time when there’s a cordial environment between the 2 states, we enchantment that the phrases be not misconstrued,” mentioned the media launch.

Nonetheless, a senior JSP chief instructed ThePrint that Kalyan “must be cautious whereas making remarks publicly, or else, it will possibly hand ammunition to detractors like on this case”.

“However the late response of Telangana Congress ministers and legislators to remarks made 4 to 5 days again seems to be with the Panchayat polls of their state in thoughts. It is perhaps to stoke some regional sentiment once more to realize electorally,” mentioned the chief, requesting anonymity.

(Edited by Sugita Katyal)

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