Jagan claims yatra nod, Moily differs
With Union law minister and AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh M. Veerappa Moily refuting the claims made by MP from Kadappa YSR Jganmohan Reddy that he has been allowed by the central leadership to continue with his “Odarpu” yatra, the standoff between Congress and the young leader appears to have remained as it is.
Soon after his meeting with Mr Moily, Mr Reddy, claimed that he received a nod to “go ahead” with his yatra. The young MP also informed that the senior leader had widely appreciated his tour. But a few hours later, Mr Moily claimed that during his meeting with the young leader the issue of yatra was not discussed.
“There was no discussion on his tour. He did not even ask for permission. So where is the question of giving permission. However, our advice is, better he desists from going ahead with the yatra,” Mr Moily emphasised.
Mr Reddy in his brief to media informed that he had told Mr Moily that the yatra was apolitical and aimed at visiting the families of those who had died of shock or had allegedly committed suicide after hearing the news of his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s death in a helicopter crash on September 2, 2009.
But Mr Moily said, “When he goes to some place, there will be meetings and rally. There may be some problems. Already some problems have been created. It is good for him not to continue... We also have sentiments.” He insisted that in the best interest of the party and the state government, the young leader “should not go anywhere”.
Mr Moily, however, clarified that he had asked Mr Reddy not to go to Telangana region till the by-polls are over there. “But about other areas he never asked me nor I gave my permission,” he said, adding that he contacted Mr Reddy after the young MP spoke to the media and told him not to go ahead with the yatra.
Already in the eye of storm ever since he defied the party’s directive by continuing with his yatras, Mr Reddy had to halt his tour after violence erupted in Warangal district, the hot bed of the Telangana agitation.
A section of the Congress, however, feels that the young leader should be allowed to undertake the yatra and any confrontation with him ahead of the biennial Rajya Sabha polls would adversely impact the party.
Mr Reddy is said to have the support of nearly 40 of the 156 Congress MLAs in Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Reddy had on Monday met political secretary to Congress president Ahmed Patel and explained the circumstances under which he undertook the tour. Mr Reddy, who wanted to meet Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee, was told by the party to meet Mr Moily.
After meeting Moily, Mr Reddy left for Hyderabad this evening.
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