At a time when the entire government machinery of Andhra Pradesh, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has been actively involved in overseeing rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas of the state, Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan has conveniently disappeared from the scene.
While there was speculation that Pawan Kalyan was busy celebrating his birthday with his family in Singapore, he surfaced on social media on Tuesday evening, giving a strange reason for his absence.
“If I start visiting the flood-hit areas, my fans will gather in large numbers to see me, which will hamper the flood relief efforts being carried out by the officials. That is why I did not visit the flood victims,” he explained.
The Deputy Chief Minister went on to say that he was aware he would be criticized for not meeting people directly.
“At most, I will be blamed for not coming out to oversee relief work. But for me, serving the people is more important than facing criticism,” he said.
However, Pawan Kalyan announced a personal donation of Rs 1 crore to the AP Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He said he would hand over the cheque to the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
He also reminded everyone that he had already asked his fans and supporters not to spend money on his birthday celebrations on September 2, but instead to donate the money to the flood relief fund. He clarified that he has been in touch with officials, giving them instructions from time to time on flood relief efforts.
However, Pawan Kalyan seems to have forgotten that he is the Deputy Chief Minister, not just an actor who avoids the public out of fear of being mobbed by fans. In such a responsible position, he should be among the people, not away from them.
Only then can Pawan Kalyan expect to be recognized as a political leader and not just as an actor!
