Pawan Kalyan warns of stir against land acquisition for Andhra Pradesh capital

Hyderabad: Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan on Sunday threatened to stage a dharna if the TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government decides to go ahead with "forcible" land acquisition for construction of the state's capital.

Addressing a public meeting at Penumaka village in the capital region area in Guntur District, the actor-turned- politician also lambasted at some of the ministers for their comments against him and requested the government to withdraw notification issued for land acquisition in some of the villages.

"I will stage a dharna if the government goes ahead with land acquisition. If the farmers give their land voluntarily, I have no objection. I am not against construction of the new capital. I request the government to be more responsible. Please withdraw the notification issued for land acquisition," he said, amid cheers from the farmers of the area.

Kalyan suggested that the government should form a committee for the new capital related issues comprising persons like Lok Satta leader Jayaprakash Narayan and retired professors and engineers.

Taking a dig at some of the ministers who criticised the actor's recent remarks against land acquisition on Twitter, Kalyan said the ministers have no right to pass comments against him.

"I am a political ally to them (TDP-BJP combine). I am not a slave to them. I will not agree to whatever they decide. I would not hesitate to fight against TDP, if necessary, to protect the farmers' rights," he said.