YSR takes a dig at Chiranjeevi

Hyderabad, Nov 23 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Sunday hit back at actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi with sarcasm and reminded him that politics is not like acting in films.

After blowing kisses towards the crowd at Ankapalli in Visakhapatnam district, the chief minister remarked: "We don't know twirling our moustaches and slapping our thighs. We only know how to love."

The chief minister was addressing a roadside meeting during his road-show in the coastal district on Sunday.

YSR, as the chief minister is popularly known by his initials, launched a counter-attack on Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi, who is drawing huge crowds during his statewide yatra (tour).

While addressing a road-show in YSR's hometown Pulivendula last week, Chiranjeevi had twirled his moustaches and slapped a thigh, re-enacting a scene from his film "Indra".

The ruling Congress party had reacted strongly to his gesture and said he was behaving like a "street rowdy".

Taking the war of words with Chiranjeevi to a new level, YSR took a dig at him for his gesticulations. "Politics is not like acting in films. A political leader needs guts to build irrigation projects," he said.

"Has anybody in the past dared to build such massive irrigation projects?" he asked the crowd while referring to an irrigation programme taken up by his government.

"Irrigation projects are necessary for cultivation, and cultivation of crops is a must for human sustenance," YSR said while targeting Chiranjeevi and Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu for criticising his government for building irrigation projects.