Pawan Kalyan Says Personal Attacks on PM Modi Brought Him to Tears, Reaffirms NDA Support

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Saturday said he was deeply hurt by the recent personal remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, saying the criticism brought tears to his eyes. Addressing a public meeting after the inauguration of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram, he said political criticism was natural in a democracy, but personal attacks on a leader devoted to national service were unacceptable.

The airport, developed at a cost of over ₹5,640 crore under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other senior leaders.

Pawan Kalyan said he had become accustomed to criticism after entering politics, but objected to what he described as personal insults directed at the Prime Minister. Quoting the proverb that "stones are thrown only at fruit-bearing trees," he said those who work the hardest often face the harshest criticism. Referring to Modi's third consecutive term as Prime Minister, he said such remarks against a leader dedicated to the nation had deeply affected him. He also praised Modi's commitment, saying the Prime Minister had continued to serve the country without taking a day's leave since assuming office and had been steadfast in addressing both national security and internal challenges.

Reaffirming his support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Pawan said any criticism of the Prime Minister would be viewed as criticism of everyone who stood with him. He asserted that there was currently no leader who matched Modi's leadership and said many people failed to fully appreciate his sacrifices for the country's development.

Highlighting the 'Viksit Bharat' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision, Pawan credited the Modi government with accelerating growth in highways, railways, ports, airports, digital infrastructure, defence and renewable energy. He said India had transformed from a country once forced to pledge its gold reserves to meet foreign exchange obligations into one of the world's fastest-growing major economies with strong foreign exchange reserves and rising global investor confidence.

Calling the Bhogapuram International Airport a symbol of Andhra Pradesh's progress, Pawan said the region, once ridiculed for poor connectivity, had now emerged as a major infrastructure hub. Designed to handle six million passengers annually, the airport features artificial intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital biometric processing and automated baggage handling systems. He said it would boost tourism, investments, connectivity and employment across North Andhra.

Pawan Kalyan also appealed to parents of children below the age of 25 to instil discipline, moral values, cultural awareness and a sense of national responsibility, saying responsible citizens were the foundation of a strong and developed India.