On the eve of the first death anniversary of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the Congress announced Rs. 1 lakh each to the families of those who had committed suicide in the wake of his death, in a bid to counter his son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who has repeatedly challenged the authority of the party leadership over the last 12 months.
Significantly, this announcement by All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Andhra Pradesh M. Veerappa Moily here comes a few days before Mr. Reddy had scheduled his yatra from the State’s Prakasam district in defiance of the party High Command’s directive to the contrary.
“The Congress President has directed the AICC to pay Rs. One lakh each to the bereaved families,” Mr. Moily said, adding that the disbursement of money will be done after the concerned Congress MPs and District Congress Committee presidents return to their respective districts. Stressing that the AICC acknowledges the contribution of the late YSR to the party, Mr. Moily said the Congress “pays tributes to the departed soul on the eve of the commemoration of his first death anniversary”.
He also pointed out that Ms. Sonia Gandhi had earlier instructed the AICC to extend necessary relief to the family members of those persons who had committed suicide after YSR’s untimely death.
Clearly, the Congress High Command, sources said, feels that by making this gesture, it will be able to clip Mr. Reddy’s wings and contain him, especially as most MPs are now toeing the party line. Interestingly, this announcement came on a day when there was speculation in Congress circles that the party would take disciplinary action against him.
