Ponnam Prabhakar writes to Naidu over remarks on Telangana

Congress Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to act against objectionable remarks on Telangana’s formation. He warned that such statements could create tensions and affect harmony between people of both States.

Hyderabad: In a significant development, Congress Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has appealed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to intervene and restrain BJP and Jana Sena leaders from making objectionable remarks on the formation of Telangana.

In a letter written on Tuesday, the BC Welfare Minister expressed concern that such statements could create tension and fuel animosity between people of the two Telugu States. He specifically objected to comments made by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya in Parliament regarding the State’s bifurcation.

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Prabhakar urged Naidu to take up the matter with the Lok Sabha Speaker and seek the expunction of the remarks from official records. He said statements by leaders of the ruling alliance in Andhra Pradesh, including the BJP and Jana Sena Party, were inappropriate and risked disturbing social harmony.

The Minister noted that remarks questioning the legitimacy of Telangana’s formation could deepen divisions among Telugu-speaking people. He also took exception to recent comments by Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan, which he said had hurt the sentiments of Telangana people. “As the leader of the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh, you should advise your allies to refrain from such statements,” Prabhakar said in the letter.

He further alleged that similar narratives had been promoted earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Referring to past remarks on bifurcation, Prabhakar said such statements had contributed to the current discourse.

Emphasising the need for unity, he said that despite being separate States, people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh should move forward with mutual respect and cooperation. “I hope you will respond positively to this request,” Prabhakar urged Naidu.