Chiranjeevi – Hindu News Paper Articels on 06 November 2008

Jubilation marks arrival of Chiru

Thousands of youths gather to greet Praja Rajyam chief

Chiru accorded warm welcome at Left stronghold

Only enemy of PR is corruption, he says

Praja Rajyam Chief Chiranjeevi sporting a cap gifted by an admirer at Dammaigudem in Khammam district on Wednesday.

PINDIPROLU (KHAMMAM DT):

An explosion of jubilation and mighty chorus of loyalty marked the entry of the Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi into Khammam district late Wednesday evening.

Thousands of youths lined up holding the party flags aloft all along the Khammam – Maripeda road to greet him.

They hemmed round his vehicle at Madiripuram village leaving little space for the convoy to move on. It came to a halt near a roadside school building where he had his lunch along with his entourage around 5 p.m.

The crowds, which gathered at many of the roadside villages, kept swelling till late in the evening. The PR chief, who had just completed his campaign in Warangal district, preferred no rest and resumed his yatra around 6 p.m addressing a massive roadside gathering.

Elated by the rousing welcome accorded by the people at Pindiprolu, a strong hold of the CPI(ML New Democracy) and the CPI(M), he said he was overwhelmed by adoration and affection showered on him. Perhaps it was preserved for years for this occasion and

“I feel to be fortunate”. And in return “I will try to live up to the expectations of the people as a man of all – ‘Andarivadini’.

He said he came out to responding to the call of the people and would like be remain one among them as their servant.

“I know those whom you have voted to power could not do much for you”.

People have been left to their fate. There is scant regard for them. There is none to listen to their woes”.

That is why people felt the need of the Praja Rajyam, he asserted.

“People wanted me because I knew no politics. I know only how to serve the people,” he said adding that the day was not far when all sections of the people would lead a happy life and live in a cheerful world.

He said the only enemy of the Praja Rajyam, was corruption and the party would strive end this.

As the rally reached Khammam town, the Nayabazar centre and Mayuri centre was packed to the full.

 

No alliance with BJP, says Chiranjeevi

MAHABUBABAD (WARANGAL DT.):

Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi on Wednesday ruled out any truck with the BJP in ensuing Assembly elections.

Speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday before embarking on the third day of his Praja Ankita Yatra, Chiranjeevi clarified that Praja Rajyam was a secular party and would not tie-up with BJP at any cost. They were negotiating for a possible alliance with the Left parties and it was yet to be finalised. Chiranjeevi addressed massively attended road shows in Mahabubabad, Kuravi and Maripeda mandals. All along the route, people thronged the roads to see their favourite actor.

At Kuravi, he passed by the historic Veerabhadra Swamy temple without having darshan due to teeming crowds. After three kilometres, his vehicle broke down. Some of the locals informed the actor that none passed by the temple without having darshan of the Lord.

Chiranjeevi then got down and took another car to have darshan of the Lord before proceeding to Khammam district.

 

PR to hoist the party flag at prominent centres

Praja Rajyam (PR) announced hoisting of the party flag at prominent centres like Jeevakona, Maddimanu, Municipal Corporation Office in Tirupati on Thursday.

 

PR activists distribute eggs

HYDERABAD:

Praja Rajyam cadres on Wednesday staged an hour-long ‘silent’ protest near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue on M.G. Road, expressing their resentment against the throwing of eggs at party president K. Chiranjeevi in Warangal district on Tuesday.

Among those present were PR spokesman Parakala Prabhakar and State leader V.G.R. Naragoni.

The activists washed the statue with milk and garlanded it before observing silence with black badges pinned to their shirts and with black ribbons on their faces.

An hour later, they raised slogans denouncing people who were against social justice and demanded arrest of those who threw eggs on Chiranjeevi.

Interestingly, the PR cadres distributed a few hundred eggs to those who were watching the protest and passers-by.

At a press conference later, Mr. Parakala said that what Mr. Chiranjeevi told the television channel was ‘misread’. “There is no chance of the PR joining hands with the BJP, Telugu Desam and Congress. But we have not ruled electoral friendship with the Left parties and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti,” he clarified.

 

PR activists take out rally

Protest against attack on Chiranjeevi at Warangal

Activists burn effigies of KCR holding TRS responsible for the incident

Eggs distributed in many places as a mark of symbolic protest

Frayed tempers: Praja Rajyam activists taking out a rally in Kurnool on Wednesday.

KURNOOL:

The supporters of Praja Rajyam took out a rally here on Wednesday to protest against the attack on Chiranjeevi in Warangal district. The rally which started at the P R office reached old bus stand where the leaders garlanded the statue of Ambedkar.

The activists distributed eggs all along the route to register their protest. Party leaders Katasani Ramireddy and Lagisetty Viswanatham said everybody had freedom to express views in democracy but some people grew intolerant towards criticism and resorted to attacks. They said there was no room for violence in democracy and people would teach a lesson to the undemocratic forces.

Effigy burnt

Special Correspondent from Kadapa writes: Condemning the attack by Telangana Rashtra Samithi activists, Praja Rajyam activists and Chiranjeevi fans burnt an effigy of TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao at ITI circle here.

Praja Rajyam functionaries sported black badges and took out a rally from the party office to One Town circle protesting against hurling of eggs on party president Chiranjeevi during his road show in Warangal district.

Praja Rajyam leaders S.A. Khaleel Basha and B. Hariprasad condemned the attack and termed it as the handiwork of forces which were perturbed at the overwhelming turnout of people to Chiranjeevi’s meetings.

Asserting that such acts would not cow down the party leader, they said his adversaries should show their strength in elections, but not by such cowardly acts.

Party leaders Nazeer Ahmed, K. Venkatasubbaiah, Radhakrishna, Chiranjeevi Fans Association district president Srikanth Reddy and others participated.

Rasta Roko

Anantapur Staff Reporter adds:

Fans of Chiranjeevi and activists of PR staged protests all over the district on Wednesday. They took out protest processions and staged rasta roko to protest the ‘attack’ on their idol. Effigies of TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao were also burnt at Hindupur, Kadiri, Tanakallu, Mudigubba and Obuladevara Cheruvu. However, burning of effigies was put off at other places on instructions against such an act, from the party leadership. The PR activists also ‘performed last rites’ to the KCR effigy in Hindupur. In Parigi, they distributed eggs to pregnant women and aged persons. In Tadipatri, they cleaned Ambedkar statues and distributed eggs among the poor. In Madakasira, former Minister H.B. Narse Gowda said the attack was a meaningless act. Protests were also held at Chilamattur, Kodikonda checkpost, Gorantla and other places in the district.

Roses distributed

Nellore Staff Reporter adds: Leaders of Praja Rajyam staged a dharna at Mahatma Gandhi statue here protesting the attack on party president K. Chiranjeev in Warangal district.

The party activists distributed rose flowers to public and expressed protest over the incident.

 

PR dharna

Visakhapatnam:

          A dharna protesting against the steep hike in prices of essential commodities and vegetables was organized by the members of the Praja Rajya Party at the Collectorate here on Wednesday. A.Rameshbabu, who presided over the meeting conducted after the dharna, blamed the inaction of the Government for the price rise. Former MLA, Ganta Srinivas urged the authorities to take immediate action to control prices failing which his party would intensify the agitation against the Government.

Chiranjeevi – Deccan Chronicle News Paper Articels on 06 November 2008

Chiru does it filmy way

 

Warangal:

Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi’s Praja Ankita Yatra is being conducted in true filmy style with expenses running up to Rs 10 lakh a day. And the real life “producers” who are actually footing the bill are ticket aspirants of respective districts who are hoping that their services would earn those seats.

Chiranjeevi’s lieutenants and the media team stay in posh hotels and these bills are also burning a big hole in the pockets of the sponsors.  The convoy consists of 42 vehicles including the two main campaign vehicles of the party chief and is maintained by around 1,200 “volunteers”. Feeding this big team is also costing the sponsors more than Rs 3 lakh a day. This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea which are provided on the dot without any delay.

The private security personnel roped in by the party are also being paid by the sponsors. Each security volunteer gets Rs 300 a day. Apart from this they are also buying fuel, hiring vehicles and spending money for showering flower petals and bursting fire crackers during stops. And to complete the filmy touch, Chiranjeevi, the lead player, also has an aide to “prompt” him while he makes speeches.

 

When the yatra got stuck

 

Warangal:

Praja Rajyam founder Chiranjeevi’s main campaign vehicle got stuck near the Uravi temple town and the technical snag to the vehicle was attributed to divine intervention. The incident took place on Wednesday when Chiranjeevi was on his final day Praja Ankita Yatra in the district. The actor-turned-politician said he was offering prayers to the presiding deity of the famous Kuravi Veerabhadraswamy temple from his road show in the town.

Though the actor was urged by the local supporters and leaders that it was better to enter the temple and offer prayers as the presiding deity was powerful and benevolent, citing time problem and security concerns, he proceeded on his tour by praying from outside. As soon as the vehicle travelled less than half-a-kilometre, it developed a technical problem and got stuck. Reminding the actor of their advice to visit the temple and the consequent snag to the vehicle, the local people once again asked Chiranjeevi to visit the temple and offer prayers. And this time he heeded their advice.

 

Chiru hints at tie-up with Left

Warangal:

Praja Rajyam (PR) president Chiranjeevi on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of his party’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Refuting the reports that hinted the PR’s possible alliance with the BJP, he clarified that he had never said that his party was not averse to the electoral alliance with the BJP.

Addressing the media at Mahabubabad town from where he began his final day of the Praja Ankita Yatra in the district, he stated that Praja Rajyam was a secular party and would not align with the BJP.  “The CPI leaders have interacted with us and there are chances that we would align with the Left parties,” but he was quick enough to add “nothing has been finalised yet on the poll alliances with any party.”

He also made it clear that his party would not go for any electoral alliance with the Telugu Desam (TD).  Referring to the throwing of eggs against him at Narsampet, Chiranjeevi said that he still considered it as a mere felicitation and there was no ill would against those who indulged in the attack.

He also pleaded with the media not to blow the issue out of proportions and forget the incident.  Asked about his vague stand on the separate Telangana issue, Chiranjeevi shot back what more clarity one expects from him on the vexed issue.

Later, as part of his final day tour in the district, Chiranjeevi addressed a series of road shows from Mahabubabad to Maripeda route and had entered the Khammam district, where he would take up two-day yatra.  He continued to make a tirade against the “corrupt” policies of the government and exhorted the people to elect the Praja Rajyam to end the corruption in all spheres.

          Trying to strike a chord with the tribal people in the area, the Praja Rajyam chief reminded the public of his tribal youth role in a movie called Kondaveeti Donga and said that he would ensure the protection of the rights of the tribals like he did in the movie.

Chiranjeevi – Hindu News Paper Articels on 05 November 2008

Eggs hurled at Chiranjeevi

Actor-politician ‘cool’ despite attack in Warangal district

Chiru takes bath after the egg attack allegedly by TRS workers

Police take into custody three TRS workers suspected to be involved in the act

NARASAMPET (WARANGAL DIST.):

Praja Rajyam (PR) president K. Chiranjeevi had to face embarrassing moments during his ‘Praja Ankita Yatra’ here on Tuesday when a group of allegedly TRS workers hurled eggs at him.

Although an egg hit the actor-politician, he remained unruffled. He became emotional for a while resenting the act. “I know politics is not a bed of roses, but thorns and dirt. But I will not go back. I have the blessings of crores of people to whom I owe a lot,” Mr. Chiranjeevi said.

Immediately after the incident, he got off the vehicle at a private engineering college to take bath, before halting for lunch. The party leaders accompanying him condemned the incident, describing it as ‘unwarranted’ and ‘uncalled for’.

Reacting to the agitating TRS activists, who were waving party flags, the PR leader said his decision on separate Telangana was welcomed widely. “What more clarity anybody wants?” he asked. “My brother and your leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao himself lauded the decision. This is not the way to behave,” he chided them.

Police took into custody three TRS workers suspected to have thrown eggs at the PR leader.

Man of courage

Mr. Chiranjeevi said he was a man of courage and would not be deterred by such acts. He said he knew a lot about Telangana life and culture. He was aware of the plight of people hence supported their cause without any hesitation.

The PR leader tried to answer criticism of Congress leaders on Telangana.

He sought to know whether the irrigation projects were really meant for water or to make money.

The projects sans water would stand testimony to corruption and increased bank balance of a few individuals.

Mr. Chiranjeevi set off on the third day of his ‘yatra’ from Mulug and addressed road shows at Mallampalli, Nallabelli Crossroads and at several places in Narasampet mandal. He even entertained the crowd with a few filmy dance steps. Onlookers in turn greeted the actor with loud cheers.

CLP flays attack

Hyderabad Special Correspondent adds: Congress Legislature Party has flayed throwing of eggs at Chiranjeevi as ‘uncivilised act’.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, CLP secretary S. Gangaram said in democracy, if any political party has a grievance it should create awareness about it among the people instead of resorting to such acts that lowers the image of the parties.

 

Praja Rajyam condemns attack

HYDERABAD:

The Praja Rajyam held the view those persons who attacked its president K. Chiranjeevi with eggs on Tuesday as ‘those against social justice’ and urged all lovers of democracy to condemn the incident.

At a press conference, spokesman Parakala Prabhakar condemned the attack and regretted that such an incident could occur against a party leader who was striving to usher in clean politics.

When asked who were responsible, he said the party did not have a clue. “Police have picked up some persons and are questioning them. We are advising our cadres across the State to observe restraint”. He stated that TRS legislator T. Harish Rao had spoken to party leader Allu Aravind, expressing regrets. Mr. Rao had denied involvement of TRS cadre in it.

Act of mischief

All parties should condemn “this act of mischief”, he declared. In a statement, CPI State secretary K. Narayana condemned the incident. Everyone had a right to express an opinion and if people did not like it, they could not force a change, he said. Former Union Minister, P. Upendra, too deplored the incident. NTP president T. Devender Goud flayed the attack. He recalled that democracy allowed freedom of speech to all.

 

Chiru ‘open to’ alliance with BJP

HYDERABAD:

Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi has not completely ruled out an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In an interview to the news channel, CNN IBN on Tuesday, he said if such an eventuality was ‘inevitable’ and if it was for the ‘wider cause of humanitarian good, it may be possible’. He said that while it was too early to say he would align with the BJP, there was a ‘feeble chance’ of such an alliance. Fielding other questions, he said: “Ours being a secular party I don’t think it will happen. We will try to avoid it, but I don’t know. I don’t want to be with the BJP.”

 

‘Mega’ welcome awaits Chiru

KHAMMAM:

The Praja Rajyam cadres are gearing up for a massive show. Party chief Chiranjeevi will enter the district to commence his road show from Dammaigudem village around 3.30 p.m tomorrow.

The fans clubs of the film star- turned politicians are out to join the party cadres. The 30-km stretch of the State highway from Maripedabangla in Warangal district to Khammam is wrapped in party banners.

Indeed a rousing welcome awaits the PR chief, who is on the last leg of his second phase campaign covering Telangana districts.

Thousands of party men and supporters are getting ready to line the streets and receive the convoy of the PR leader. He will reach Khammam town around 7.30 p.m after covering important villages including Pindiprolu, Tirumalayapalem and Arempula.

The town police have drawn up bandobust plans for the occasion.

Huge cutouts and giant size boards have been put up at vantage points in the town. His two-day visit is expected to bring in some important leaders from other political parties into Praja Rajyam. Mitra, official spokesperson of the party, and party leader Tammineni Seetharam have been camping here for the past three days to monitor the arrangements.

The party men conducted preparatory rallies in Khammam and Kothagudem as part of the mobilisation effort for the occasion.

 

Angry PR activist’s burn KCR effigy

WARANGAL:

Resenting the hurling of eggs on Praja Rajyam Party leader Chiranjeevi, the party workers across the district organized protests and burnt effigies of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party President K. Chandrasekhar Rao here on Tuesday.

In the milieu, a Praja Rajyam worker sustained burns at Jangaon.

According to information reaching here, a group of party activists took out a rally and came near the chowrastha.

They burnt the effigy of Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao. One of the activists, P. Dasarath (20) of Jangaon tried to stomp the effigy while it was on fire. His trousers caught fire.

Other workers tried to put off the fire, but he sustained severe burns and was shifted to a private hospital.

At Palakurthy and Buchannapet mandal headquarters too, several PR workers burnt the effigies of TRS party leader protesting against hurling of eggs at Mr. Chiranjeevi at Narasampet.

PR leader B. Siddartha Goud told the newsmen that they condemned the act and expressed their unhappiness at the behaviour of TRS workers.

Chiranjeevi – Deccan Chronicle News Paper Articels on 05 November 2008

Chiru gets eggs on face during yatra

 

Warangal:

Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi was thoroughly shaken on Tuesday after suspected Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS) activists threw eggs at him during his road show at Narsampet. The actor’s aggressive fans, who had chased and attacked actor Rajasekhar and his family across the state for a mere comment against Chiranjeevi, were nowhere in sight when their hero fought off a shower of eggs.

But they made up for this lapse later by thrashing the egg throwers and indulging in vandalism in Nekkonda, Jangaon, Warangal, and other places.  A red-faced Chiranjeevi halted his road show at a rice mill on the outskirts of Narsampet and took a bath before regaining composure. Chiranjeevi fans also took out protests and indulged in vandalism at Nekkonda, Jangaon, Warangal and other places.

“I am a man of courage and I would not leave the battlefield because of this,” he said at the next stop of his Praja Ankitha Yatra. “I am determined to bring in a positive change in politics.” He also made appeal to his fans to show restraint which they ignored. Narsampet police took into custody three students, Samudrala Ashok, Puli Rajkoti, and Marri Anil, into custody for the egg attack and are checking their political affiliations. It is believed that TRS activists attacked Chiranjeevi because of his vague stance on separate Telangana.

 

 

Chiru raises pitch on graft

 

Warangal:

Praja Rajyam (PR) president Chiranjeevi, who was inhibited to make direct allegations against the ruling Congress or other parties, has started naming the parties and making allegations.  Addressing a well attending road show meeting at Mulug, where he began his third day of Praja Ankita Yatra in the district on Tuesday, alleged that the Congress government took up Jalayagnam initiative only to make money.

He also threw challenge to the Congress government that he was ready to prove the rampant corruption in the irrigation projects taken up in the state.

Launching a scathing attack against the ruling party, he alleged that the government was selling away the lands and water and they would also sell the remaining panchabutas.

He predicted that the day would come when the ruling party would sell away the air, which is the part of the panchabutas, very soon.

Interacting with the school students on the outskirts of Mulug, Chiranjeevi exhorted them to become doctors, engineers, astronauts or any other professional but not to become corrupt in their professions.

Venturing into the agriculture fields, he interacted with the women at Bollonipally village and enquired with the women if they were still treating him like a cine star or a politician.

The women replied that though they liked him as movie star, they were also hoping that he would bring change in politics too.

At the road show meeting in the village, the PR chief invited an Anganwadi worker, Uma Rani, onto his van and gave her opportunity to speak.

She narrated that their jobs were not being regularised and they were being paid a paltry sum and youths were not getting jobs.

Impressed by her oratorical skills, Chiranjeevi asked her to give her address to his party leaders and had invited her to work for the Praja Rajyam. He assured her of good recognition.

He stated that new leaders would bring in freshness to politics and would herald positive change, while the old leaders fail on this front. Students and youths were turning out in large numbers for his road shows but his speeches were lacking punch to galvanise the crowds.

 

Lack of leaders hits PR

 

Anantapur:

A leadership crisis is haunting the Praja Rajyam (PR) launched by actor Chiranjeevi in the Anantapur district. As the state and district committees are not formed, leaders are taking up activities without coordination. The PR is facing problems due to differences between leaders of Chiranjeevi fans associations, who have been supporting the actor for so many years, and leaders, who recently joined the party from other parties.

There is allegedly a fight for supremacy among the PR leaders in the Anantapur district.  Local PR leaders are upset as leaders from other areas were appointed as in-charges to supervise flag hoisting, planting of see-dlings, membership enrolment and other activities of the party.

There are also allegations that SC, ST and BC leaders were not given importance while appointing leaders from the district as in-charges for other districts. Leaders of Chiranjeevi fans associations allege that leaders, who recently joined the PR, are not giving importance to them.

It is also learnt that several leaders are sending anonymous complaints to the party high command on one another as part of the fight for supremacy and also to get tickets. Some PR leaders are taking up party activities in the two Lok Sabha and 14 Assembly constituencies without coordination. There is no response to the activities of the PR in rural areas of the district. Some leaders are claiming that they would get the party ticket in the next elections. Chiranjeevi fans and the PR activists feel that if the present situation continues the party will face problems in the district.

Chiranjeevi – Hindu News Paper Articels on 04 November 2008

Chiranjeevi dares Congress to clear stand on Telangana

People come in large numbers to welcome Praja Rajyam leader

 

PARKAL (WARANAL DT.):

Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi dared the Congress to come out clear on the Telangana issue. “We said we are for a separate State. We said we will not obstruct formation of new State. We said we respect the sentiments and self-respect of people of Telangana. What more clarity do you want from me,” he sought to know from the Congress leaders as the people cheered in jubilation.

People continued to throng in large numbers to welcome Praja Rajyam leader on the second day of his tour in rural areas of the district. He addressed road shows at Gudepad cross roads, Parkal chowrastha and bus stand area and all along the road until he crossed over to precede towards Regonda mandal headquarters.

Mr. Chiranjeevi was speechless on occasions and just he waved at the multitude of crowds who vied to see him in real life.

Enroute, the TRS workers sporting flags protested demanding him to say ‘Jai Telangana’. Irked at such protests,

Mr. Chiranjeevi said he was very clear on the issue. “It is the Congress party which promised separate Telangana. It is the Congress leaders who owned the TRS flag and come to people. Let us all question the Congress party on the issue,” he told the people.

Wearing a broad smile and waving at the people, Mr. Chiranjeevi drove past the villages and junctions as hundreds of vehicles followed him. The aspiring candidates put up a good show erecting huge flexi boards with the photographs of Mr Chiranjeevi and themselves at all important road corners.

At the Parkal, Mr. Chiranjeevi reminded the farmers of gloomy days when several of them were forced to commit suicides. He said lack of minimum support price failed their hopes and drove them to extremes.

He promised to learn more about their plight as he proceeded in the district. After crossing the Parkal town, Mr Chiranjeevi walked into the cotton field and interacted with a farmer there.

          Earlier in the day, several leaders from the district and a group of doctors led by noted paediatrician M. Seshu Madhav called on him and apprised him of the public response to the party.

Of the people: Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi addressing Parkal road show in Warangal on Monday.

 

Chiranjeevi with cotton farmers at Regonda on Monday.