Pawan Kalyan Should Apologise for Past Remarks Before Conducting Telangana Meetings: Ponnam

State Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has demanded that actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan issue a public apology for earlier statements he made regarding Telangana before proceeding with any political gatherings in the state.

Speaking at a press conference held at his MLA camp office in Husnabad on Monday, Ponnam levelled accusations against the Jana Sena chief, asserting that his past remarks had damaged Telangana's identity and self-esteem. He contended that citizens with genuine Telangana sentiment would reject such meetings unless Pawan Kalyan first sought forgiveness for those statements.

Ponnam also charged that the Jana Sena leader was furthering the BJP's political interests in Telangana and was working to sow discord while destabilising the state's tranquil environment.

The minister questioned the rationale behind Pawan Kalyan's focus on Telangana while holding the position of Deputy Chief Minister in Andhra Pradesh. He further probed why comparable political initiatives were not being undertaken in states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, suggesting that electoral calculations were motivating the planned Telangana campaign.

Ponnam turned his attention to Pawan Kalyan's track record on matters affecting Andhra Pradesh, criticising him for not opposing the privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and the transfer of port operations to private entities. He additionally claimed that Pawan Kalyan had remained silent on critical issues including joblessness, rising fuel prices, and increased cooking gas costs.

While acknowledging that citizens might admire Pawan Kalyan as a cinema personality, Ponnam cautioned that any effort to harm Telangana's identity through political activities would encounter strong resistance. He also stressed that while all are invited to participate in Telangana Formation Day festivities, political figures should refrain from exploiting people's divisions for political advantage.