Kiran fooled people, charges Chiranjeevi

Holding former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy responsible for the division of the State, Union Minister K. Chiranjeevi on Saturday alleged that Mr. Reddy used all efforts to dilute the strong voice being aired by Seemandhra leaders in favour of a unified State.

“From the beginning, Mr. Reddy’s focus is only on retaining his post and gaining the image of Samaikyandhra champion. He fooled all of us in the entire episode and is still trying to project himself as an integrationist,” Mr. Chiranjeevi said while addressing the Congress party workers here.

Meanwhile, the ‘Bus Yatra’ launched by Congress leaders entered the city, and a meeting was held at Suryakala Mandiram on Cinema Road.

“The BJP had given the slogan of One vote-Two States from this dais over 18 years ago. The TDP, YSRCP and the Left parties, too, worked in favour of the division. Is it correct to blame the Congress alone for the division?” he asked.

Comparing the Congress with an aged mother, Mr. Chiranjeevi said that it was unfair on the part of children to abandon their mother when she was on their last days.

Staunch loyalist

“I am not going to leave the Congress. Power may come and go, but I have certain principles to follow,” he said. Thanking the party workers for boosting his confidence levels, Mr. Chiranjeevi wanted them to spread the message that all political parties were equally responsible for the division of the State at the grassroots.

Time to plan

“This is the time for us to chalk out plans for the overall development of our State,” he said.

Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Raghuveera Reddy, Union Ministers M.M. Pallam Raju, Panabaka Lakshmi, Killi Krupa Rani, former Minister Kondru Murali and other leaders were present.

Protest

Earlier in the day, Mr. Chiranjeevi underwent an embarrassing situation at Pithapuram, where a few fans of Pawan Kalyan objected his speech and demanded that he must extent solidarity to his younger brother.

They also questioned him on what basis the Praja Rajyam Party was merged into the Congress and what social justice was being done by the Congress to the public. He, however, evaded a reply to those questions and proceeded towards Kakinada.