ABV Explains Stage Sharing Decision
Former IPS officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao has responded to criticism over sharing a public stage with former Andhra Pradesh minister Ambati Rambabu, stating that his decision was guided by respect for public decorum and democratic values. In a detailed statement, Rao questioned whether critics truly understood the meaning of freedom of speech and asked if political opponents should be denied the opportunity to express their views.
He clarified that although Ambati Rambabu was seated beside him during the event, he did not pay attention to what was being said and simply ignored the remarks. Rao argued that people could have adopted the same approach instead of questioning his presence on the stage. He said walking away from the event would have been disrespectful to the organizers who had invited him and would have violated basic public etiquette.
Rao emphasized that he would not abandon his values or manners merely to earn public appreciation or appear as a hero on social media. According to him, maintaining dignity and respecting the occasion were more important than making a political statement through his actions.
He also requested people not to connect the issue with "Ravan" or raise that topic in the current debate. Rao said he would explain his views on that matter separately in a future post or on another appropriate occasion.
