Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader from Andhra
Pradesh, G Venkataswamy, who created a flutter by demanding
Sonia Gandhi`s resignation as party president, today said he
is ready to withdraw all his comments.
"I had to make those comments because I was worried that
party may suffer in Telangana region. I am ready to withdraw
all comments...I request her (Gandhi) separate Telangana," the
octogenarian leader said, appearing to be backtracking on the
issue.
If I am expelled, party workers in Telangana would form a
new outfit called Telangana Congress, he claimed.
Meanwhile, Venkataswamy`s son and Congress MP G Vivek
said he did not agree with the comments of his father and he
has faith in Gandhi`s leadership.
Slamming Venkataswamy for his attack on Gandhi, Youth
Congress activists met Andhra Pradesh Congress president D
Srinivas at his residence here late last night and demanded
disciplinary action against him.
Demanding Gandhi to quit from Congress president post and
make way for an lndian who has risen from grass root, the
dalit leader from Telangana had yesterday alleged corruption
and inflation have risen under her leadership and the party is
fast losing its base all over the country.
Taking exception to Congress high command`s move of
inviting PRP chief Chiranjeevi to work together, Venkataswamy
said the decision has lowered the stature of Congress as the
actor-turned-politician supports united Andhra Pradesh.
Congress leaders in the state, led by Srinivas, have
condemned Venkataswamy`s comments against the party president.
"These comments are most unfortunate. I condemn all the
utterances made by Venkataswamy. It seems he was not in
sense," Srinivas said.
State minister and prominent Dalit leader in Congress D
Rajanarasimha said Venkataswamy`s comments are aimed at
positioning himself or his son for the post of chief minister
if separate Telangana is realised.
Several state ministers and other party leaders also
condemned Venkataswamy`s remarks against Gandhi.
AICC Secretary and Congress MLC P Sudhakar Reddy demanded
that Venkataswamy be expelled from the party immediately.
Reddy said he has sent letters to A K Anthony,
chairman of Congress disciplinary committee, and other leaders
urging them to expel Venkataswamy from the party.
PTI
