Abandoning political rivalries, BJP leaders wish KCR on his 67th birthday

Hyderabad: Amidst Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao blatantly hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, many BJP leaders, abandoning their political rivalry albeit temporarily, wished KCR on his 67th birthday on 17 February.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Birthday wishes to Telangana CMO Shri KCR Garu. Praying for his long and healthy life."

Just days after the squabble between KCR and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the latter wished KCR and tweeted, "Heartiest birthday wishes to Hon'ble Chief Minister of Telangana Shri K Chandrasekhar Rao ji. May Maa Kamakhya and Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev bless you with good health and a long life."

Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K Stalin called KCR and personally conveyed their wishes. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan also extended their greetings to KCR through Twitter.

Earlier, on 14 February, KCR, using the book 'I Am a Troll: Inside the Secret World of the BJP's Digital Army' by journalist Swati Chaturvedi, had attacked the BJP saying that the country's image has gone to ruins across the world because of BJP's propaganda.

Similarly, setting the stage for a war of words with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, on 13 February, KCR had said there was nothing wrong with Rahul Gandhi asking for proof of surgical strikes. "Even I can ask for proof," he had said and added that there's a "popular apprehension" of disturbances at the borders right before elections. "How can the BJP use the surgical strikes for political ends?" he had asked.

KCR had also said that the Army, and not the BJP, should be credited for carrying out surgical strikes in Pakistan in response to the Uri attack in 2016.

In response, the Assam CM had tweeted, "Dear KCR garu, here is the videographic evidence of the surgical strike by our brave army. In spite of this, you question the valor of our Armed forces and insult them. Why are you so desperate to attack and malign our Army? New India will not tolerate insults against our Army."

He had added, "On the anniversary of the Pulwama attack, the opposition has chosen to insult our martyrs by again questioning the surgical strike KCR &Cong is in competition to prove their loyalty to the Gandhi family. Our loyalty is with Bharat. Those questioning the armed forces won't be spared."

On KCR's birthday, the Chief Justice of India, Justice N.V Ramana, also conveyed his greetings to the CM. Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundarajan sent a bouquet and birthday greetings to the CM. Telugu actor Chiranjeevi also posted his greetings on Twitter. "I pray to God that he would give you power, strength, and capacity to reach your aims and goals and wish good health to you," Chiranjeevi tweeted.

Meanwhile, as part of KCR's birthday, Rs.10,000 has been granted to every school falling under Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS) to celebrate his birthday. Interestingly, the TMREIS guidelines on the topics to be discussed as part of the birthday celebration included the role of Chief Minister in formation of Telangana and the programmes initiated by CM.