Stop ‘drone politics,’ says Jana Sena chief

Hyderabad: Tollywood actor turned politician and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday asked the ruling YSR Congress and the Telugu Desam to stop their ‘drone politics’.

Pawan Kalyan was reacting to the allegations and counter allegations that the YSRC and the TD put about a drone that was used by the irrigation department to survey the flood levels and had flown near former AP chief minister and TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s residence which is on the banks of river Krishna.

Mr Pawan in a statement said, “It’s distressing to note that ministers and the MLAs are roaming on the Krishna river bund when people in the low-lying areas are suffering due to inundation and await aid. It is the prime responsibility of the government to ensure safety of the people especially when their houses are submerged in the floodwaters. Is it the duty of the ministers to check with drones whether the buildings on the bund are submerged or not? The bund area housed a nature clinic owned by Manthena Satyanarayana Raju, the residence of former MP Gokaraju Gangaraju, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stayed for two days is in the same line as Mr Naidu’s residence. There are other residences and also the Sri Sarada Peetham where many Telugu state chief ministers attended religious programmes. All these residential houses will be submerged if the flood water increases further.”

He said, “There is no need for ‘drone politics.’ Leaders must keep aside political vendetta and political mileage. Since it is the period of catastrophe, priority must be given to save the people who are in distress.”

People affected by the flood need assistance and all parties should focus on providing aid, said Mr Pawan.