Chandrababu, Chiranjeevi cross swords

Telugu Desam and Congress parties are indulging in a slugfest over Mudragada Padmanabham’s protest fast seeking merger of Kapu community into BC list in Andhra Pradesh. While former Union Minister and Congress leader K Chiranjeevi accused the Chief Minister of afraid of losing Kapus support to the government, Chandrababu Naidu strongly rebutted saying that the former has no moral right to talk on the issue.
Chandrababu Naidu ridiculed Chiranjeevi for dumping the Kapus, who supported him and merged his Prajarajyam party in the Congress. Chiranjeevi should come clear as to what he has done for Kapus during his stint as Union Minister, the Chief Minister thundered. Chiranjeevi is not eligible and has no moral right to question his government on the Kapus issue rake up, an irritated Naidu said. The Government initiated measures towards doing justice to the Kapus he added.
On the other hand, Chiranjeevi and TPCC president N Raghuveera Reddy fumed at the Naidu Government for preventing them. On being taken into custody at the Rajahmundry Airport and prevented from meeting Padmanabham, who just withdrew his fast according to reports, they told media persons that the TD Government was trying smart on the issue. Chiranjeevi fumed at Chandrababu for preventing them to meet with Padmanabham.
He alleged that Chandrababu was afraid of Kapus, who may distance from his government. “Why Chandrababu is scared and prevented us from meeting the Kapu leader”, he asked. He fumed at the TD Government for stopping them from going to extend solidarity to Padmanabham in an unprovoked manner. “We are not here to provoke or hurt the sentiments of anyone and Chandrababu Government was stifling their voice. Naidu is adopting double standards and diverting the issue when in Opposition the TDP conducted protests on people’s issues and now curtailing the efforts of the Opposition from doing so, he alleged. Chandrababu was not a committed leader and adopting “divide-and-rule” policy and failed to deal with the case Chiranjeevi charged. (NSS)