After having started his ‘Jana Sena’ amidst a lot of fanfare and expectations, Pawan Kalyan soon turned it into a ‘Bhajana Sena’ of the TDP and BJP. Is it true as alleged by his detractors that he just started the Party to help the TDP come to power in return for a ‘fat package’? How else can one explain his mystifying silence on various aspects related to public issues? 

At the inaugural speech of his ‘Party’, Pawan Kalyan said that he was not desirous of power but was starting the ‘Party’ to question the wrong doings of the government. Now the ‘land pooling’ issue is snowballing into a huge controversy with farmers up in arms against the establishment as their very livelihood is threatened. 

Also, the TDP government hasn’t lived up to its promise of loan waiver for the farmers. On both issues, Pawan Kalyan has maintained a stoic silence. And this is the man who has criticized the Congress regime of forcibly acquiring lands from farmers. The recent political presence of Pawan was to eulogize the efforts of Naidu post the ‘Hudhud’ calamity. All these factors combined give rise to the apprehension that Pawan Kalyan is just following in the footsteps of his brother: flattering to deceive.

Chandrababu Naidu has called on his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah on Monday in Bangalore. The Chief Ministers of neighbouring states not just confined to exchange of smiles, but they also exchanged special gifts to one another. While, Chandrababu presented Siddaramaiah with an image of an idol from Tirupati, Siddaramaiah placed a traditional Mysore turban on Naidu’s head. 

Meanwhile, both Naidu and Siddaramaiha said to have discussed over the modernisation of the irrigation canals of the Tungabhadra reportedly to put an end to the loss of 30 tmcs of water. AP has already completed modernisation of the 80-km stretch of the canal that runs in its area, whereas Karnataka is yet to upgrade the remaining 115- km long stretch in its territory, causing silting of the dam and canals and loss of around 30 tmc ft water through leaks. 

Although both Naidu and Siddaramaiah said to have ‘decided’ to knock the doors of Tunghabadra Water Board, Siddaramiah wants to take it up with technical sub-committee prior to approaching Tungabhadra board.

Setting the record straight, Union Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has made it clear that the expansion of Gannavaram airport “can’t move” further unless required land is gathered. Stressing the need for land acquisition, Ashok Gajapathi Raju said, “The terminal at Gannavaram is so small that it can only accommodate maximum 3 air flights. Usually, a medium airport would accommodate at least 12 air flights in its terminal. Also, the parking lot in Gannavaram is small which would create greater discomfort for the passengers in years to come. 

Keeping all this mind, we’re mulling over to have land acquisition in order to expand the airport.” Talking about the privatization of Air India, Gajapathi Raju said, “As of now, there are no plans to privatize the Air India. In future, it may be privatized.” Meanwhile Gajapathi Raju said that Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Pawan Hans is listed on stock exchange. He said that the move is aimed at improvising transparency and efficiency. Raju has unveiled a new draft policy on civil aviation and it is expected to come into force by early January after approved by Union Cabinet.