Senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh, G. Venkataswamy, who created a flutter by demanding Sonia Gandhi’s resignation as party president, on Wednesday 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.
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Meanwhile, Mr. Venkataswamy’s son and Congress MP G. Vivek said he did not agree with the comments of his father and he has faith in Ms. Gandhi’s leadership.
Slamming Mr. Venkataswamy for his attack on Ms. 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 Ms. 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 on Tuesday alleged corruption and inflation have risen under her leadership and the party is fast losing its base all over the country.
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Taking exception to Congress high command’s move of inviting Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi to work together, Mr. 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 Mr. Srinivas, have condemned Mr. Venkataswamy’s comments against the party president.
“These comments are most unfortunate. I condemn all the utterances made by Mr. Venkataswamy. It seems he was not in sense,” Mr. Srinivas said.
State minister and prominent Dalit leader in Congress D. Rajanarasimha said Mr. 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 Mr. Venkataswamy’s remarks against Ms. Gandhi.
AICC Secretary and Congress MLC P. Sudhakar Reddy demanded that Mr. Venkataswamy be expelled from the party immediately.
Mr. Reddy told PTI that he has sent letters to A.K.Anthony, chairman of Congress disciplinary committee, and other leaders urging them to expel Mr. Venkataswamy from the party.