Praja Ankitam Yatra of filmstar-turned-politician Chiranjeevi evoked a huge response from the people in Pulivendula, the home turf of the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as the people, mostly youth and women, flooded the streets and the roads in thousands to see and hear the actor.
People stood on the roof tops, balconies and every inch of available space on both the sides of the route of the star and enthusiastically waved at him and showered flower petals on him.
Pulivendula, the fortress of YSR family for more than three decades, had never extended such a welcome to any other leader. Chiranjeevi's programme in the town had become doubtful after Tuesday's incidents of Congress workers attacking the vehicles of other senior leaders of Praja Rajyam party but the response of the people washed away all the misgivings.
Thanking the people of Pulivendula for their response, Chiranjeevi brushed aside the attempts by the political rivals to browbeat him by violent tactics. "Do I need a passport or visa to visit this place?" he asked and himself replied. "Your love is my passport and your respect is my visa".
Taking a pot shot at the Congress, he said in the democratic system any body can go any where he wishes to and no body should try to stop him or her.
"Like the special economic zone (SEZ) have you established special political zones too?", he asked the ruling party with out taking is name.
While appreciating the over-all development of Pulivendula, thanks to the fact that it was the constituency of the Chief Minister, Chiranjeevi said that his wish was to see the entire Andhra Pradesh developed like Pulivendula.
"For me every place in this state is like my native place. I was born in Mogalturu village but I have spent my life at so many other places and towns in the state. For me every place is my place", he said promising to work for the development of the entire state on coming to power.
Replying to the question of the Chief Minister Reddy what he had done for his native village Mogalturu, the star said that he had set up his blood bank in Hyderabad and not in Mogalturu to benefit maximum number of people.
The incident of attack on Praja Rajyam party leader in Pulivendula yesterday evoked condemnation from different quarters. The state CPIM secretary B V Raghavulu said that it was the Congress culture to threaten the political rivals by resorting to violence.
State Congress president D Srinivas said that he did not approve any such act and it should be condemned.
A delegation of the PRP leaders led by Dr P Mitra met the state director general SSP Yadav in Hyderabad and demanded action against the culprits.
ALSO READ: It's Chiranjeevi vs YSR in AP now
More from rediff