In a no-holds-barred attack on the Centre and the state government, Telugu film star and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan on Saturday said in Tirupati that he would fight till the Centre granted special category state status to Andhra Pradesh.
He demanded that Telugu Desam Party leave the NDA government if it could not fight and achieve the special status as promised by the BJP.
He lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi too.
"Modi-ji, you said (during the 2014 election campaign) that Congress killed the mother (Andhra Pradesh) and gave birth to a new baby (Telangana). Now, you are trying to cremate the mother," Kalyan said.
He wondered what was stopping TDP from fighting for the rightful demand of special status.
"They are apparently afraid that the Centre will set the CBI on them. Do you have anything to hide that you are so scared? Stall Parliament and achieve special status," Kalyan said.
"I appeal to the Centre to not look at a few filthy rich TDP MPs like....Grant special status looking at the common people of the state," the actor added.
Referring to the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju's claim that three chief ministers were blocking the grant of special status to AP, Kalyan asked, "Why are you then hanging on to your post? Resign and come out."
He wound up his nearly one hour speech in a highly emotional tone, saying in English, "Respected sirs of BJP and Congress. We are deeply hurt that you are not able to see our angst, anguish, tears and anger.
"You may be sitting up north and we in down south and think we are not in your vicinity. But we will be in your vicinity and fight for our right. "Hum ladenge...Jeet tak ladenge," he said.
He would organise a series of meetings on the issue beginning with a public meeting at Kakinada on September 9, he said.
Kalyan also ruled out joining the BJP and asserted that his outfit was for the "Telugu people".
"A few months after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, I attended his swearing-in ceremony, BJP national president came to Hyderabad and we met. The BJP president told me that regional parties have no future and hence wanted me to join his party. I told him clearly that Jana Sena was born for the Telugu people. It has a nationalist approach though it's a regional party," Kalyan recalled but in an apparent slip of tongue referred to Amit Shah as Satish Shah.
"I like the BJP but there is no commonality between it and Jana Sena on some issues," he pointed out.
He asserted that Jana Sena would only carry the people's 'jhanda' (flag) and agenda and nothing else.
Kalyan, who floated Jana Sena ahead of the elections in 2014, extended full support to the TDP-BJP combine and addressed rallies along with Modi.
Kalyan was specially invited for Modi's swearing-in ceremony as the former was instrumental in the combine's victory in AP.
"I met Modiji only at the swearing-in and never after that," Kalyan said.
The Power Star displayed varied emotions during his one hour-long address, often cracking jokes on himself.
"I am not passionate about films but I will continue to act. I don't have money, so will have to act. Unless you people buy tickets and watch my movies, I don't get money. You people didn't watch my last film Sardar well and I suffered (financially)," Kalyan quipped.
As his follower and Jana Sena activist Vinod Kumar, belonging to Tirupati, was stabbed to death allegedly by the fans of another Telugu star a couple of days ago, Kalyan raised the issue and appealed to his fans not to take films seriously.
"We (heroes) are all very cordial and friendly. We have no rivalry. See films as a source of entertainment and forget. I too don't take films seriously and what I am serious about is the real life and the problems faced therein," Kalyan said.