Rapa rapa row: Nara Lokesh slams Jagan Reddy for defending YSRCP supporter's 'provocative' Pushpa 2 dialogue

TTDP general secretary Nara Lokesh

Andhra Pradesh IT minister and TDP leader Nara Lokesh has hit out at former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for defending a 'provocative poster' held by a YSRCP supporter.

"Andhra Pradesh will not spare anyone who breaks the law or promotes violence," the TDP general secretary said criticising Jagan Reddy and referring to his behaviour as unacceptable.

Lokesh's remarks came a day after Jagan Reddy defended his party supporter who was seen with a poster bearing dialogue of a popular Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2 - 'Rapa Rapa Narukutham' which translates to "we'll chop heads one by one". The poster, which alluded to Pushpa-movie style hacking of opponents during a temple fair, hinted at a possible YSRCP return to power in 2029.

The YSRCP supremo refrained from distancing himself from the violent dialogue. He, in fact, went on to say that there was nothing wrong with using film dialogues. "Is it a democracy or not, that we cannot even use film dialogues? Is it wrong to do this (gestures) or do that? We are not living in a democracy?" Jagan asked.

He claimed that the person who held the poster during his recent visit to Palnadu belonged to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP). "Maybe he couldn't tolerate the wrongdoings of his own party's leader, Chandrababu, and that's why he was talking about chopping off heads of his people," the former CM said.

Questioning Jagan's behaviour over the controversy, Nara Lokesh noted how children were used to prop up such posters. "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 said.

Reminding people that rights come with responsibilities, the state IT minister added, "We also have fundamental duties. Let's not incite violence".

The TDP leader also took to X to express his disappointment and called Jagan's attitude dangerous. "Will you slaughter them like sheep? What does it mean that you are defending the language of your admirer? Your attitude is very dangerous for democracy," he posted.

TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu too slammed the YSRP chief and questioned questioned the appropriateness of such rhetoric. "If there is a dialogue in movies that is a joke, can it be put on a flex banner? Do you think that people are killed in movies and it is okay to kill them outside? Do you think that because rape is shown in films, it is acceptable outside as well," he asked.