Rajinikanth had said that Hyderabad had developed so much that whenever he was there he wondered whether he was in New York.
Rajinikanth. (rajinikanth/Twitter)
Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, who was in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh a couple of days ago, has come under bitter criticism from the ruling YSRCP leaders.
They didn’t contain their resentment and displeasure against Rajini for praising TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and his vision.
The YSRCP leaders appeared quite vocal in their criticism of the Tamil superstar.
Rajinikanth had said that Hyderabad had developed so much that whenever he was there he wondered whether he was in New York.
The actor made the comment at NTR’s birth centenary celebrations organised in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh on Friday, 28 April.
“I was in Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills recently for the shooting of the film Jailor. For a moment, I wondered whether I was in Hyderabad or in New York,” he said in apparent appreciation for former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s efforts in developing the city.
“I came to know that the city has developed economically as well,” he said.
One of the most vocal protests in Andhra Pradesh against the statement came from former state minister Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao, also known as Kodali Nani.
“Yesterday, a so-called star had come to Andhra from the neighbouring state and spoke about Naidu’s vision and governance,” noted Nani, before launching a broadside.
“He may be a star and hero in Tamil Nadu, but he is a zero in Andhra Pradesh. For every three days of shooting, he gets admitted to a hospital for four days. Looks like he had just read the script given by Naidu,” said Nani.
“Rajini was also one of the stars who visited the Viceroy Hotel during those days and stood in support of Naidu, who had backstabbed NTR. Now, he comes and heaps praises on NTR saying he is a yuga purush,” Nani noted.
He questioned Rajinikanth’s support for Naidu over his ruling and vision, citing incidents such as the throwing of slippers at NTR at the Viceroy Hotel.
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister RK Roja, an actor-turned-politician, also came down heavily on Rajnikanth.
She noted that the TDP lost the government in 2004, and Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated to create Telangana in 2014, with Hyderabad as its capital.
“We are now in 2023 and this means for 20 years, the TDP had no control over Hyderabad, and the development of Hyderabad took place in these 20 years. Neither the TDP nor Naidu has any involvement or hand in Hyderabad’s progress in the last two decades,” she said.
She also said that NTR’s soul would be anguished by Rajini’s comments on Naidu. Roja asked if Rajini forgot what happened at the Viceroy Hotel and how Naidu backstabbed NTR.
She was referring to how Naidu took over the TDP from its founder, legendary actor-turned-politician NT Rama Rao, in August 1995.
Another minister from Jagan’s Cabinet Ambati Rambabu, also criticised Rajnikanth.
NTR’s widow Nandamuri Lakshmi Parvathi, also found fault with Rajini’s comments on Naidu and said the centenary celebrations of NTR turned out to be an event to praise Naidu.
Jr NTR fans were also upset that he was not invited to the birth centenary celebrations of his grandfather, NTR.
The YSRCP found an opportunity and ran a campaign on social media against Naidu for not inviting Jr NTR.
Meanwhile, Rajinikanth was trolled on social media as well.
In politics, I have greater respect for Pawn Kalyan than Rajnikanth.
At least he has a party and didn't chicken out. pic.twitter.com/hjROI6XNQG
— Rise Of YSJagan (@RiseofYSJagan) April 29, 2023
This, even as support poured in for Jagan.
https://twitter.com/RowdieF/status/1652309246279839745
At the centenary event held in Vijayawada on Friday, Naidu gave a call to all the Telugu people living across the globe to continue their fight till Bharat Ratna is awarded to the party founder, the late NT Rama Rao.
Releasing books titled “NTR Assembly” and “Historic Speeches” in the presence of an elite gathering, including Rajanikanth, the TDP supremo said that NTR was not an individual but a force.
Rajinikanth said that NTR was his inspiration, and Naidu said he was happy to organise the birth centenary of the great leader in Vijayawada, a city of which NTR was very fond.
Stating that Rajnikanth had cancelled his film shoot to attend this programme, Naidu termed the noted actor as a synonym for friendship and affection.
“He has come here only out of sheer affection,” noted Naidu, adding that actors of the current generation and even future generations cannot portray characters like NTR did.
Recalling that NT Rama Rao floated the TDP when the self-respect of the Telugus was at stake, the current TDP chief stated that he always executed what he wanted to, overcoming all the difficulties.
Making it clear that efforts would be made to instal a statue of NTR, called the Statue of Telugu Pride, the Andhra Pradesh former chief minister also said that efforts are on to set up a memorial too.
“The perfect action plan will be announced on the day of Maha Nadu, and Nimmakur, the native village of NTR, will be made a tourist place,” he said.
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