Kadapa: A defiant Y S Jaganmohan Reddy
will set out on his controversial `Odarpu` yatra from Friday,
notwithstanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s high praise of
Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Congress` gesture towards
sympathisers of the late chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
"There is no reconsideration of the yatra. It will
continue as scheduled," Jagan`s close aide Ambati Rambabu, who
was suspended from Congress recently for publicly criticising
Chief Minister K Rosaiah, said.
Rambabu was asked whether Jagan will change his mind in
view of the Prime Minister`s effusive remarks hailing
Rajasekhara Reddy as a "great leader from Andhra Pradesh" and
the party deciding to provide compensation to the families of
all those who committed suicide or died of shock after
hearing the death of YSR in a helicopter crash.
"These (PM`s statement and Congress move) will not affect
the yatra. Odarpu yatra is a sentimental one and it will
continue," he said from Hyderabad.
Jagan will lead thousands of his supporters in paying
homage to his late father at his samadhi in Idupulapaya
Estates owned by his family near Pulivendula in Kadapa
district of Andhra Pradesh`s Rayalaseema region.
In the evening, he will leave for Prakasam district to
resume the yatra, which is in its third spell now.
A few days ago, Congress high command had decided to
give Rs one lakh to the families of those who committed
suicide in the wake of the death of YSR.
The move is seen as an attempt to counter Jagan who has
been defying the party high command over undertaking the
`Odarpu yatra`.
PTI
