Talk development, refrain from personal attacks, KCR tells PM Modi

HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of getting personal in his speeches. “Why is Modi after my nose? How does it matter if my nose is long or short?” KCR asked at a public meeting in Warangal on Tuesday.

KCR has made similar comments at other public rallies as well. BJP leaders from Telangana, however, insist that Modi has made no personal remarks about KCR. The CM often breaks into a laugh over the alleged comments and leaves the crowds in splits, but political observers say he is not cracking a joke and is trying to make a point. “I have been asking both BJP and Congress why half of India is still in darkness. I have been demanding to know from them why 70,000 tmc of water is not being utilised and much of farmland does not get water for irrigation. They are not bothered to reply to these questions I have raised but instead want to make personal remarks against me,” KCR said in Warangal.

“Modi has never talked about KCR’s nose. He has not made any personal comments against KCR. BJP talks only about issues,” state BJP president K Laxman told TOI.

KCR has also taken exception to Modi taking a dig at his belief in astrology. “How does it matter to Modi if I believe in astrology?” he asked during the public meeting. The CM said he wanted a discussion on issues affecting people but the Centre is skirting it.

At the March 29 election rally in Mahbubnagar, Modi took pot-shots at KCR, saying that the latter went for early assembly polls by following the advice of astrologers. “Because of this, there is a huge burden on public exchequer to conduct polls separately for the Lok Sabha. KCR knew that his stars were not bright if the elections are held in April/ May and hence, recommended early dissolution of the assembly,” Modi had said.

Notwithstanding the joust with Modi, KCR also kept the drama quotient going by making fun of TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy’s decision not to shave his beard until the TRS is thrown out of power. “Who cares whether Uttam grows a beard, if he shaves or not,” KCR retorted during a recent rally.