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 Anddhra 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, told PTI.
Mr. Rambabu was asked whether Mr. Jagan will change his mind in view of the Prime Minister’s effusive remarks hailing Mr. 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.
Mr. 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 Mr. Jagan who has been defying the party high command over undertaking the ’Odarpu yatra.’
