Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday strongly defended his statement that Telangana was nobody’s “jagir” and that he had every right to hold a meeting there.
Speaking to the national media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Pawan Kalyan defended his party’s political activities in Telangana, asserting that Jana Sena was founded in the state and had every right to expand its presence there.
Pawan Kalyan said Jana Sena has both leadership and organisational strength in Telangana and currently has around 1.5 lakh registered members in the state.
“When our cadre and supporters in Telangana are enthusiastic and want the party to work for them, should we ignore them?” he asked.
The Jana Sena chief argued that any attempt to prevent him from entering or participating in political activities in Telangana would amount to a violation of his fundamental rights.
He claimed that such objections had not been raised during the decade-long rule of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and alleged that regional hostility had intensified only after the Congress came to power in the state.
Referring to recent political criticism directed at him, Pawan said he had been personally targeted for over a year and questioned why his remarks about Telangana not being anyone’s personal “jagir” had created controversy.
Reiterating his support for Telangana’s development, Pawan said party leaders in the state had requested him to expand organisational activities there. He stressed that no individual could dictate where he should travel or engage politically within India.
“This country belongs to all of us. I used the word ‘jagir’ to emphasise that every citizen has the right to go anywhere in India. I was never opposed to the formation of Telangana; I only objected to the manner in which the state was bifurcated,” he said.
The Jana Sena Party chief criticised attempts to frame national issues through a North-versus-South lens. He warned that excessive regional polarisation could pose a threat to national unity.
“Leaders holding constitutional positions should avoid rhetoric that divides the country into northern and southern regions. Separatist thinking is not good for India,” he said.
Pawan noted that the country’s integration after Independence had required immense effort to unite more than 570 princely states and cautioned against narratives that could undermine that unity.
Drawing a comparison, he remarked that if political leaders questioned his involvement in Telangana, similar arguments could be raised against national leaders campaigning in regions outside their home states.
The Jana Sena chief said younger generations increasingly expect politics to move beyond regional discrimination and divisive rhetoric.
According to him, voters want leaders who speak with reason, understand public problems and focus on practical solutions rather than identity-based politics.
