Amid birthday celebrations for Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu turning 75, Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar issued a pointed open letter via video, urging restraint in political discourse.
Prabhakar congratulated Naidu profusely but swiftly shifted to a pressing concern: inflammatory comparisons of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to India and Pakistan. ‘Such rhetoric undermines the peaceful coexistence we’ve enjoyed post-bifurcation,’ he stated.
Highlighting the shared Telugu heritage and ongoing collaborations, Prabhakar recalled how the 2014 split fulfilled long-standing demands, backed by BJP’s own resolutions. ‘It’s been 10 years—why dig up the past now?’ he asked.
Directing his message at Naidu’s alliance role, Prabhakar demanded removal of offensive comments from official records to safeguard bilateral harmony. ‘Who is India and who is Pakistan? These labels poison the well of goodwill,’ he remarked.
This intervention arrives at a sensitive time, reminding leaders that provocative language risks derailing developmental synergies between the neighboring states. Naidu’s leadership could pivotal in diffusing tensions.
