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The party general secretary also expressed support for the Centre’s stand on the Indus Waters Treaty row, saying India was prepared to take tough decisions
Nara Lokesh (right) ruled out any personal ambition of becoming the chief minister and said Chandrababu Naidu was the TDP’s leader. (PTI)
Andhra Pradesh will not spare anyone who breaks the law or promotes violence, declared TDP general secretary and state IT minister Nara Lokesh, delivering a pointed message that clearly targeted former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Lokesh’s stern stance came in response to a recent controversy surrounding Reddy’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) whose supporters invoked a dialogue from the Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa 2 during a recent public meeting, comparing political adversaries to sacrificial animals. He used the line “Rapa Rapa Narukutham” (we’ll chop heads one by one) during Reddy’s public rally to symbolise their supposed fate, drawing outrage from the ruling TDP.
Noting how children were used to prop up such placards, Lokesh said: “Is this what a former chief minister should be teaching? Is that acceptable behaviour? We must be a peaceful state and a peaceful nation. If anybody breaks the law in Andhra Pradesh, nobody will be spared or let go.”
He reminded people that rights come with responsibilities. “We also have fundamental duties. Let’s not incite violence,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, Lokesh said he was thrilled by the massive turnout at Visakhapatnam’s International Yoga Day celebrations led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. “It’s a movement,” he said. “Both the PM and CM gave a call, and people just came to participate. It has given a sense of purpose to all.”
He recalled witnessing two world records in rapid succession: first, 22,000 tribal students formed a synchronised Surya Namaskar at the Andhra University Engineering Grounds—“adorable, disciplined, inspiring”. Then, on June 21, between 2.8-3 lakh people joined the beachfront session led by the prime minister. Lokesh noted that an additional one lakh people had set out to join but were hampered by traffic—underscoring the challenge and enthusiasm behind the event. “It was a massive undertaking,” he commented.
Lokesh emphasised that the event’s impact went far beyond a single day. Over 30 days leading up to June 21, trainers delivered thematic yoga sessions across three key religious and tourist locations daily, a strategy meant to spotlight Andhra Pradesh’s cultural and scenic value. “That’s why it became a movement,” he said, thanking PM Modi for providing a platform to showcase Andhra’s strength and spirit.
He echoed the prime minister’s appeal to balance prakriti (nature) and pragati (progress) and highlighted that the real power of this initiative lay in its unity—“people coming together”. Drawing attention to health concerns exacerbated by nuclear family lifestyles, he echoed statistics: “India has become the diabetes capital of the world. Obesity is the next big challenge.” Stressing the prime minister’s call to reduce oil consumption by 10 per cent, he described it as both a directional and aspirational goal essential for longevity and holistic well-being for every Indian.
When asked about Andhra’s competitive edge in attracting investment—particularly from Bengaluru—Lokesh stressed that Andhra is not luring away businesses, but engaging in healthy competition. “Competition makes states stronger,” he explained. He outlined the presence of global corporations like KIA, Cognizant, Asian Paints, Apollo Tyres, Capgemini, Reliance, and ArcelorMittal in the state, highlighting Naidu’s aggressive push for business. “Andhra is known for its speed and ease of doing business and with an aggressive CM like Naidu, AP has been benefitted with the best in business.”
On Cognizant receiving land at 99 paise in AP, Lokesh defended the approach as part of taking bold steps. “Even PM Modi facilitated Tata Motors’ deal for Rs 1 per acre in Gujarat,” he said. He also cited Andhra’s previous success in bringing Microsoft and ISB to Hyderabad as evidence of a determined economic strategy during Naidu’s earlier term.
On national security, specifically Home Minister Amit Shah’s firm stance over the Indus Waters Treaty, Lokesh fully backed the Centre.
“PM Modi has sent a strong message that anybody who attacks India will not be let off. We’re prepared to take tough decisions,” he said. He recounted the personal sacrifice of Jawan Murali Naik from Andhra Pradesh, emphasising its deep resonance: “The son told his parents, ‘If I lay down my life, the entire country will come.’ And the father said, ‘The country has come for him.’ Jawans like Murali Naik have make India safe; their sacrifices make us feel safe.”
Turning to speculation within the party cadres of him becoming the chief minister, Lokesh firmly ruled out any personal ambition. “There is no second thought—our leader is only Naidu and he is our CM. No debate or discussion around it. I am a faithful karyakarta,” he said.
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t…Read More
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t… Read More
- Location :
Andhra Pradesh, India, India
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