New Delhi: Days after warning of action
against him, Congress today sought to mollify its defiant MP
from Andhra Pradesh Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who is out on a
controversial yatra, describing him as a "misguided youth"
whom it would not harm or hurt.
Highly-placed Congress sources said the party wants to
be patient with him as it is well aware of the fact that his
father and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S
Rajasekhara Reddy`s sudden death was an emotional issue to
him.
"His behaviour has not been normal. His father`s
accidental death is an emotional issue for him. It is also a
loss for the party. He is misguided and undertaking steps
(yatra) which should have been taken by the party," the
sources said.
"We would not want to harm him or hurt him... the
party is patient (on the issue)," the sources said.
The comments assume significance in the wake of Jagan
defying the party High Command for the third time and resuming
his controversial `Odarpu` yatra on Friday last.
The party had warned of disciplinary action against Jagan
if he went ahead with the third phase of the yatra in
Srikakulam district but it now seems Congress is having second
thoughts on its strategy to confront the son of Rajasekhara
Reddy.
Though Jagan has been maintaining that the yatra was
his personal obligation, Congress took it as a show of
strength and defiance by the Kadapa MP and asked all its
lawmakers to keep away from his yatra.
Andhra Pradesh is the only major state where Congress is
in power on its own and the good showing in the 2004 and 2009
Lok Sabha elections ensured that the party came back to power
at the Centre.
Already, the issue of separate Telangana has divided the
party on regional lines bringing worries to the central
leadership and therefore the High Command is going the extra
mile to placate Jagan whose yatra received a good response
from the public.
-PTI
