Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Congress MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy appears defiant as he has announced his
decision to go ahead with his controversial yatra from July 8
despite party chief Sonia Gandhi`s reservations about it.
Jagan, who defied the party directive against undertaking
the yatra earlier, had met Gandhi along with his family
members on June 29 to seek her permission for the tour. The
meeting took place in New Delhi on the request of Jagan`s
mother Vijayalakshmi.
"We explained to her the need to resume the yatra to
console the family members of those who died following the
death of my father (Y S R Reddy). She (Sonia Gandhi) did not
cite any specific reason but did not appear to be favourably
inclined over resuming the yatra," Jagan, son of late chief
minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, said in an open letter to the
people.
During the meeting of his family members with Gandhi, the
Congress chief had suggested assembling the affected families
at one place to console them and also to offer financial
assistance, the young Lok Sabha MP said.
"But my mother pointed out that it is not a good
tradition to call them instead of my going there for
consoling. She reminded Sonia Gandhi that she had come to
Hyderabad to console us after the death of my father," he
said.
Regretting that his yatra came under the shadow of
political controversies, Jagan Mohan, the Kadapa MP, said he
waited patiently so as not to be misunderstood.
Jagan would pay tributes to his father at Idupulapaya,
the family estate where he was buried, tomorrow and later
proceed to Ichapuram in Srikakulam district on July 8 to
resume his tour.
Defying the Congress high command`s directive, Jagan had
left by train to start his yatra in Warangal district on May
28 but it was marred by violent protests from Telangana
supporters.
PTI
