Actor Pawan Kalyan on Friday gave a clarion call, Congress Hatao, Desh Bachao, to voters not just in the State but the nation at large as he unveiled his Jana Sena at Novotel in Madhapur.
Borrowing a leaf or two from Narendra Modi, the actor made it clear right from the outset that he’s on a mission to dethrone the Congress. “I am ready to join hands with any other party, including the TDP, to keep the Congress out of power,” he said.
However, Pawan left his fans confused a bit on one crucial question: Will he contest the ensuing elections? “I am not sure whether our party will contest the elections. But I can say one thing. I am bracing for a long and lengthy battle, say for the next two decades,” he said. While unveiling his party flag and agenda to an invited gathering of around 5,000 people, Pawan hurled the choicest of epithets at the Congress high command for the sorry state of affairs in the State. Alleging that the AICC leadership had bifurcated the State for the sake of votes and seats and turned people in Seemandhra and Telangana against each other, he thundered, “I will make sure that the Congress will never win a seat. Pawan Kalyan will make sure. I won’t spare anyone including Sonia Gandhi. I don’t give a damn.”
Recalling Indira Gandhi’s visit to Madras when the anti-Hindi movement was at its peak in 1966, Pawan gave some advice to Rahul Gandhi. “Mr Rahul Gandhi try to learn from your grandmother how to lead the nation. She had assured people that Hindi wouldn’t be imposed,” he recalled. He went on to add, “Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul, if you want to lead the nation, please visit Botcha’s native Vizianagaram. I don’t like those who compromise on national integrity.”
Pawan questioned, “When Congress has five years, why did it divide the state in 23 minutes? Is there a need for 600 youth to commit suicide for Telangana?”
Dropping hints that he could join hands with the TDP in the days to come, Pawan did not utter a single word against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu. When some among the audience mentioned Naidu, Pawan replied, “I have high regards for him”. Though he did not refer to YSRC chief YS Jagan either, he took an indirect dig at him, saying, “I don’t tolerate corruption. I am not after power for the sake of launching TV channels and newspapers.” Stating that he respects TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, the star, however, fired salvos at him. “Don’t try to create bad blood among Telugus even now. As the T state has formed, try to concentrate on how to create Golden Telangana,” he suggested.
Proving that he is closely following the speeches and deeds of politicos, Pawan mocked at Rao’s claim that he was earning `one crore per acre with mechanised-farming. “Try to help all the farmers in Telangana earn the same,” he said.
In utter contrast to his brother Chiranjeevi’s political speech, the actor tried to present a powerful argument on why he is floating a new outfit. And, during his two-hour long speech, he refrained from attacking Chiranjeevi directly. But he took the Congress to the cleaners with stinging and humorous remarks on Digvijaya Singh, Jairam Ramesh, Ahmed Patel, Chidambaram, Moily etc.
“Digvijaya Singh reportedly said I should merge my party with the Congress. What does he think about us? Is the Congress some kind of Ganges that all should go and merge in it?” he mocked.
Confusing Signals?
Pawan sent mixed signals. Often contradicting himself, he said he decided to enter politics as he “hates contemporary politics.” In the same breath, he said he doesn’t see the need to contest. On film career, he said he was in two minds but added he decided to quit acting due to “Delhi leaders.”
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