Opinion

KCR snub for PM Modi; Will BJP take it lightly?

Telangana Chief Minister KCR skipped protocol by staying away when PM Modi landed in Hyderabad

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his visit to Telangana for a big event, little did he know he would be at the receiving end of some embarrassment. Coming from the Chief Minister of the South Indian state, PM Modi is sure to keep it in his mind for many days to come.

As is the customary practice, when a Prime Minister lands in a state in the country, the protocol demands that the Chief Minister of the respective state needs to be at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister. But that did not happen this time around, when PM Modi disembarked at the Hyderabad airport.

Telangana Chief Minister KCR preferred to skip the protocol, and stayed back at his residence when the Prime Minister landed in Hyderabad. Only the Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy and Telangana Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav were there to receive the Prime Minister at the airport.

KCR act irks state BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, has taken this to heart. The Telangana unit of the BJP slammed the Chief Minister’s behaviour, saying that KCR’s act of breaking the airport welcome protocol was idiotic and shameful. The party went on to charge KCR with “regularly insulting the Constitution”.

It may be recalled that KCR had preferred not to mince words when it comes to topic such as the BJP and Prime Minister Modi. It was only a couple of days earlier that the Telangana Chief Minister had ridiculed the Prime Minister as someone who dresses up for elections.

However, it is believed that the officials at the Chief Minister’s official residence had informed that KCR was not feeling well and that he wouldn’t be able to be present. The Chief Minister had also deputed Talasani Srinivas Yadav to receive and see off the Prime Minister upon his arrival and departure.

Not the first time

Whatever be the reason, the state unit of the BJP sensed foul play in KCR’s act of what they called breaking protocol. The Prime Minister had arrived in the state capital to dedicate the ‘Statue of Equality’ to the nation, on the occasion of commemorating the 11th century saint Sri Ramanujacharya. Inaugurating the 50th anniversary celebrations of International Crops Research Institute (ICRISAT) was also part of the Prime Minister’s itinerary.

Talking of breaking protocols, Prime Minister Modi had been subjected to a similar situation a few days ago when he had arrived in Punjab. Chief Minister Charanjit Channi had also skipped the customary airport welcome when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had arrived in the state this January.

All said, the BJP would not want to take the Hyderabad episode lightly. Will the Centre too intervene in this issue is something we will have to wait to know.

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Sanjeev Ramachandran

A journalist with 23 years of experience, Sanjeev has worked with reputed media houses such as Business Standard, The Ne More »
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