Actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi, who had cited APJ Abdul Kalam as an inspiration while entering politics, has criticised the former President for his support to the India-United States nuclear agreement.
"He is a scientist and a statesman and he should not get involved in a political issue," Chiranjeevi said. "Perhaps he has not carefully read the documents of the nuclear deal. It has far reaching implications for the country," he said.
Chiranjeevi's grand entry into politics
Chiranjeevi has also attracted the wrath of the Congress party by opposing the Special Economic Zones policy of the state government. Taking on the Congress party on the issue, he advised Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to visit Gujarat and see how the SEZs were being developed there without harming the interest of the farmers.
"There should be no place for developing real estate in the SEZs. The land should be only for industrial activities," he said.
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Meanwhile, Chiranjeevi's party Praja Rajyam will celebrate a week long 'flag festival' by planting one crore plants and hoisting the party's flag in over 25,000 villages across the state.
The programme will start on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Along with the flag festival, the party will also launch its membership drive from October 2, Chiranjeevi told newsmen on Monday. Addressing a press conference, Chiranjeevi asked all his fans and supporters to take part in the plantation drive to increase the green cover and save the environment.
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The flag festival will be followed up by the much-awaited state-tour of the star, which starts from October 5. Chiranjeevi's tour will start from Srikakulam district, the north-eastern tip of Andhra Pradesh and move on to Vishakahapatnam.
He will later visit three districts of Telangana and one district in the Rayala Seema region. "I will interact with the people, and cover 50 kms per day," he said.
Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam starts with a bang
Meanwhile, Chiranjeevi is currently embroiled in a heated exchange of words with his political opponents. The recent suicides by three weavers of Sricilla town has provided the megastar with new ammunition to target the ruling Congress party, which had ridiculed Chiranjeevi's visit to the weavers' centre ten days ago.
The Congress party had snidely remarked that Chiranjeevi did not even know the difference between a powerloom and a handloom
"Don't attack me. I am not important. The lives of weavers are important. Please save them", he said.
Chiranjeevi announced a financial help of Rs 25,000 to the family of each of the deceased weavers. "The latest suicides only highlight the grim situation and the sufferings of the weavers. It is high time the government comes forward to help these weavers," he said.
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