Former Minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy has threatened to quit the Congress party if its leaders continue to indulge in character assassination of his brother and former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
Speaking to reporters after undertaking a 30-km padayatra along with hundreds of supporters to Idupulapaya Estate to pay homage to his brother, Mr. Vivekananda Reddy alleged that Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had conspired to institute a CBI inquiry against his nephew and Kadapa Member of Parliament Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy in disproportionate assets case.
TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu was instrumental in getting a CBI inquiry instituted and CBI Joint Director Lakshminarayana was close to him and a TDP MLA, he alleged. “The CBI can give a clean chit to anyone or show anyone as a crook,” he commented.
“How dare leaders accuse YSR of looting a crores and giving it to Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy,” he fumed. He lambasted APCC president Botcha Satyanarayana's remarks that YSR could not stop the defeat of 150 MLAs and other leaders' remarks that YSR had “embezzled” public funds as Chief Minister and asked if his brother did not ensure victory of over 150 MLAs. The former Minister said he would mobilise the support of Congress MLAs who had faith in YSR and complain to the Congress high command against the goings on.
YSR was in the hearts of lakhs of people and the Congress could not sustain without YSR's image, Mr. Vivekananda Reddy asserted. “Delhi leaders feel that Congress should gain strength with YSR's image, but Congress leaders in the State are belittling him,” he remarked. He said it was his last warning to those speaking against YSR and projecting him as a criminal in the guise of taking action on Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy.
He said he never reacted when Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy was targeted, but would not remain silent if YSR was portrayed as a “swindler”. Congress leaders should realise that the party was rejected in Kadapa and Pulivendula by polls for speaking ill of YSR, he said.
