"Where Was Prakash Raj When Hindus Were Killed in Bangladesh? Attacking Sanatan Dharma Is Easy": Pawan Kalyan

The controversy surrounding the Tirupati Laddu adulteration issue has escalated into a heated exchange between Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and senior actor Prakash Raj. In an exclusive interview with OneIndia, Pawan Kalyan addressed the ongoing Twitter feud and responded to Prakash Raj's accusations, offering a strong rebuttal.

Pawan Kalyan, who has been vocal about the adulteration of the sacred Tirupati Laddu, had earlier raised concerns about the violation of its sanctity. This prompted a critical tweet from Prakash Raj, who questioned Pawan's intentions and accused him of spreading unnecessary apprehension on a national level.

Prakash Raj's tweet read, "Dear Pawan Kalyan, it has happened in a state where you are DCM. Please investigate. Find out the culprits and take stringent action. Why are you spreading apprehension and blowing up the issue nationally? We have enough communalism in the country (thanks to your friends in the centre)."

In his response, Pawan Kalyan expressed disappointment over Prakash Raj's remarks. He clarified that while he respects Prakash Raj as an actor and shares a great bond with him, there was no need for Raj to comment on this matter. "I like Prakash Raj, he is a good friend of mine. We share a great bond. Though we differ on political aspects, as an actor, I truly respect him. But there is no need for him to comment on this issue," Pawan said.

Addressing Prakash Raj's criticisms, Pawan explained that his concern was solely about the sanctity of the Laddu being violated and that the responsible parties should be punished. "My thought was, whoever is responsible should be punished. It had nothing to do with religion," he clarified. However, Pawan noted that Prakash Raj's remarks seemed to bring in political undertones, dragging BJP and Prime Minister Modi into the discussion.

Pawan Kalyan didn't hold back in questioning the selective outrage of self-proclaimed secularists like Prakash Raj. "He feels he is a great secularist, and I know where his thoughts come from. But my question is, where was he when Hindus were being killed in Bangladesh? Did he comment on that? Not just Prakash Raj, but many secularists who claim to be so find it easy to comment on Hindu society but are scared to comment on other religions," Pawan said sharply.

He further added, "For them, secularism is a one-way street, and they avoid criticizing issues outside of Hinduism. But what is secularism if not equality for all? Whoever wants to comment should do so across the board. That's what an average Indian wants."

In response to Prakash Raj's remarks about Pawan Kalyan spreading fear and "blowing up the issue nationally," Pawan defended his stance, stating that the issue's importance extended beyond the state. He cautioned Prakash Raj to be mindful of his words, saying, "Think 100 times before speaking or don't speak."

The escalating war of words between the two public figures points to a deeper divide over how such sensitive issues are discussed and the political implications tied to them.