Poor turnout at R-Day fete does not deter PCC chief

The lack of a large audience did not deter him, said Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Raghuveera Reddy. He said this after seeing the poor turnout at the Republic Day programme at the Andhra Ratna Bhavan.

Less than 100 Congress workers and sundry witnessed Mr. Raghuveera Reddy unfurling the national flag.

He said Mahatma Gandhi began his Dandi March with just 18 people, but then others joined in.

He said he would be satisfied even if there were just seven persons because the seven would eventually grow toseven crore, he said. The poor turnout is being attributed to the poor choice of office bearers and committee presidents.

The Scheduled Caste and the Backward Class workers and leaders in the party have been sulking ever since the party announced vice-presidents, general secretaries and district committee presidents.

The “real leaders” who were at the forefront of the fight with Telugu Desam and BJP have been sidelined, according to the grassroots level workers.

Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said that several leaders had to make big sacrifices so that the people of the country could enjoy freedom.

But unfortunately the BJP at the Centre and the TDP in the State were running the governments on the lines of corporate institutions.

Executive meeting

The PCC president announced that the State Executive Committee consisting of 89 members would meet here on January 31 to chalk-out the future course of action of the Congress .