Congress warns Jagan on Yatra

As Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy prepares to recommence his “odarpu yatra” from Thursday to meet and console the kin of those who died unable to bear the shock of the death of his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Congress high command on Tuesday issued a veiled threat to him to face the consequences if he defied its order.

Congress leaders here believe the yatra will aggravate the turbulent political situation in Andhra Pradesh. Congress spokesman Abishek Singhvi told journalists here: “All true committed and loyal Congressmen must observe both the party dharma and the Lakshman rekha of propriety and party discipline. The failure to do so would perforce lead to a chain of consequences, which are best avoidable. We hope compliance will take the place of defiance… party discipline, like law, does not discriminate between individuals.”

Chairman of the party media department and disciplinary committee Janardhan Dwivedi said a report on the issue had been sought from Congress general secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh and Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily. Mr. Moily is now in London and is expected back in Delhi on Monday.

Sources pointed out that Congress president Sonia Gandhi advised Mr. Reddy on June 29, during a meeting he and his family had with her, to arrange to meet all the families of the victims at one place instead of going on a yatra. If Mr. Reddy still decided to go ahead with the programme, there were chances of the high command even issuing a show-cause. They pointed out that the party in Delhi and A.P. wanted to concentrate on the Assembly by-elections in Telangana and nothing should divert its attention at this juncture. Mr. Reddy's similar attempt to recommence the yatra in Telangana areas on May 28 resulted in violence.