KVP hits back at Pawan Kalyan over remarks on YSR regime

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Senior Congress leader and close associate of late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Dr. K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, has strongly reacted to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan's recent remarks on the YSR era, accusing him of making baseless allegations against a leader who is no longer alive to defend himself.

In a sharply worded open letter, KVP said he was surprised that Pawan chose to target YSR while discussing the Congress party. He thanked the Deputy Chief Minister for remembering YSR whenever Congress is mentioned, but firmly rejected the allegations that democracy was under threat during YSR's tenure.

KVP also sought to draw a distinction between the legacy of YSR and the present-day YSR Congress Party, asserting that the two should not be viewed as one and the same. He maintained that YSR never misused state machinery to target political opponents and questioned claims that police officials were pressured to file cases against Pawan Kalyan.

The Congress veteran described it as unfortunate that allegations were being made against YSR nearly 17 years after his death without any supporting evidence. He argued that such statements serve little public purpose and only reopen old political debates.

KVP further advised Pawan Kalyan to focus on issues affecting the people rather than revisiting past political rivalries. He urged the Deputy Chief Minister to press both the Andhra Pradesh and Central governments to secure assurances promised under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and to work towards resolving pending public concerns.

Will donate Rs 10 crore if allegations are proven

Referring to Pawan's allegation that a police officer had informed him about attempts to implicate him in false cases during YSR's regime, KVP challenged the claim and demanded a lie detector test for the officer concerned. In a dramatic offer, he said he would donate Rs 10 crore to the Telangana Chief Minister's Relief Fund if the allegation was proven true.