Calculated assault on Chiranjeevi

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's Cabinet colleagues seem to be taking turns in launching a verbal attack on film star Chiranjeevi ahead of his anticipated launch of a political party. In what appears to be a calculated move, the ministers are not only targeting Chiranjeevi personally but also his "social service" activities, notably blood and eye donation. As expected, Chiranjeevi continued to maintain a stoic silence while his brothers and brother-in-law too haven't reacted to the ministers' criticism over the last week. The Chiranjeevi fans, however, took to the streets in various parts of the state to burn the effigies of minister Mareppa on Saturday. One who is used to receiving bouquets all the while as an actor, Chiranjeevi is now having to face brickbats even before he entered the political scene. The scenario will only worsen after he formally launches his political party and the actor will have to live with it, political observers feel. Major industries minister J Geeta Reddy was the first to go hammer and tongs at Chiranjeevi while marketing minister M Mareppa was equally vehement in his diatribe against the politician-in-the-making. Other ministers like Aanam Rama Narayana Reddy and Botsa Satyanarayana too sought to deride the star, though in a subdued manner. TRS rebel MLA T Jayaprakash Reddy, who has virtually been sailing with the Congress, too joined chorus with the ministers on Sunday. "Chiranjeevi is just a leader of Kapus and his influence is restricted only to three coastal districts. He is no match to the legendary NT Rama Rao," remarked Geeta Reddy in New Delhi. She derided Chiranjeevi for keeping his mouth shut even as his brother-in-law and brothers were going to town for a few months now announcing the actor's political plans. Mareppa went a step ahead and snubbed Chiranjeevi saying: "One who cannot take his own decisions is not fit for politics." Mareppa, of course, targeted the actor's so-called social service activities alleging that blood was being sold at the Chiranjeevi Blood Bank. "They claim to be donating eyes through cornea grafting but nobody exactly knows where the eyes are going. A white paper should be released on the blood and eye bank activities," he demanded even as he claimed that Chiranjeevi got prime landworth Rs 50 crore from the government for running the blood bank. After the fans burnt his effigies, Mareppa upped his ante and lashed out further at Chiranjeevi saying the latter was a "big drunkard" and consumes two bottles of liquor everyday. Referring to Chiranjeevi's daughter Srija's marriage and Pavan Kalyan's wife Nandini's case, Mareppa wondered why the star's fans failed to take up the cause of two distraught women. "How can a man who could not set his own house in order work for the society's welfare," Mareppa questioned. Jayaprakash Reddy said Chiranjeevi was trying to launch a political drama as he was devoid of movie roles. "Is selling blood in the name of a blood bank a social service," he questioned. Speculation is rife that some bigwigs in the ruling Congress establishment are encouraging these leaders to take snides at Chiranjeevi in an ostensible bid to provoke the actor and make him speak out. The Chiranjeevi camp, however, is perturbed and has so far failed to chalk out a strategy to counter the vicious campaign. Indications from the Chiranjeevi camp are that a formal statement on the blood bank affairs could be made in a day or two to clear the clouds.