Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a fiery public address, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan issued a stern warning to YSRCP leaders, declaring that the coalition government will not be intimidated by threats, violence, or political bullying.

Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Rs 1,290 crore safe drinking water project in Markapuram, Pawan Kalyan accused the previous regime of fostering rowdyism and fear politics, and vowed zero tolerance for any attempts to harass or intimidate ordinary citizens.

‘Statements like ‘we’ll bring axes and cut throats’ will not scare us,’ Pawan said, referring to recent provocative remarks allegedly made by opposition leaders. ‘We are giving due respect to your 11 seats. If you see any faults in our governance, point them out—we will correct them. But if you resort to intimidation, we will not remain silent,’ he warned.

Reflecting on his own political journey, Pawan reminded the crowd that even after losing from two constituencies in 2019 when YSRCP won 151 seats, he stood firm and fought on. ‘We stood up then, and we’ll stand up now. You’re saying you'll finish us in 2029? First, let’s see how you come back to power,’ he challenged.

Launching the state's largest drinking water project in the region, Pawan shared a personal story of his childhood spent in Kanigiri, where he experienced the harsh reality of fluoride-contaminated water. ‘We had to leave the village in six months because of health risks. Even after decades, people here still suffer due to the same issue. As someone who lived this struggle, I am personally committed to resolving it,’ he said.

The Rs 1,290 crore water supply project under the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide safe drinking water to over 10 lakh people in the fluoride-affected regions of western Prakasam. Pawan emphasized that the project will be completed within 18 to 20 months, provided timely release of funds. He also committed to closely monitoring the project's progress himself.

Pawan accused the previous YSRCP government of negligence, alleging that it ignored the drinking water needs of the region. ‘They were more focused on erecting plaques than completing real projects,’ he said. He revealed that the Centre had nearly withdrawn the Jal Jeevan Mission funding due to poor implementation and misutilization of funds by the previous government.

‘Thanks to repeated efforts by myself, CM Chandrababu Naidu, and Union ministers, we were able to revive the project. Since the NDA alliance came to power, our voice is finally being heard in Delhi,’ he added.