Pawan Kalyan and Congress have once again trumpeted Telangana sentiment

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kaljan pays homage at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on Monday. | Photo credit: X

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party Chief Pawan Kalyan courted another controversy when he claimed that he was denied permission to pay tribute to 1,200 people who sacrificed their lives for Telangana statehood.

Questioning the denial of permission, Mr. Pawan Kalyan noted that citizens from any part of the country are free to pay their respects to the soldiers at India Gate and wondered why the Telangana martyrs’ tribute should be treated differently.

At the same time, he questioned whether 12 years were not enough to recognize the sacrifices of Telangana martyrs? “The country that inspired me is Telangana. Such sacrifices cannot be ignored,” he said in a tone questioning the commitment of governments that have not respected them.

Addressing a Jana Sena meeting in New Delhi, Mr Pawan Kalyan claimed that the Jana Sena was never against the aspirations of the people of Telangana, but questioned what he described as the “rushed and politically motivated” process adopted during the bifurcation of the state.

The Jana Sena chief also criticized what she called “selective regionalism” among some political leaders in southern states. Without naming individuals, he claimed that several leaders had adopted an aggressive stance against the Center while addressing audiences in their home states but softened their stance once they reached the national capital.

Congress is responding

The Congress reacted strongly to Mr. Pawan Kalyan’s comments in the state capital when TPCC Mahesh Kumar Goud questioned his “discomfort” with the Telangana State formation.

Mr. Goud said the AP Deputy CM was only parroting the words of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he alleged had made similar derogatory remarks against the Telangana formation.

He said that Mr. Pawan Kalyan has belittled the Telangana formation in the past. “The formation of Telangana should not be trivialized for political gains,” he said when asked where the Jana Sena was during the Statehood movement.

“This is not a film where dialogues can be held without responsibility. Politics requires maturity, understanding and respect for history,” he observed, advising Mr. Pawan Kalyan to study the history of the Congress and the contributions of leaders from the Nehru-Gandhi family before speaking against the party.

“Both states should work together for development and welfare. However, if anyone targets Telangana for political gains, the Congress will strongly oppose such efforts,” he said.

Telangana Government Adviser Mohammed Ali Shabbir condemned Mr. Pawan Kalyan for his remarks on Telangana.

Published – 15 Jun 2026 20:43 IST