Jagan Thanks Sonia, But Not To Stop Yatra

Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy categorically told Congress president Sonia Gandhi that there was no question of backtracking on his Odarpu Yatra in Prakasam district as scheduled from September 3, despite the AICC statement to extend financial assistance to the bereaved families.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, Jagan thanked Sonia Gandhi for announcing ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the families of those who had committed suicide following the death of his father Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. At the same time, he told her that Odarpu did not mean mere payment of ex gratia to the bereaved families. “It is only a part of the consoling the families.

It is our tradition to call on the distressed families personally at their respective houses, console them, wipe their tears and give them confidence to lead their normal lives. That is what I had promised to do at the public meeting at Nallakaluva in Kurnool district on September 25 last. I have been following this tradition by taking up Odarpu Yatra, as I felt it was my bounden duty to call on the distressed families,” he pointed out.

Though the AICC statement had given a lot of solace to the party cadres and YSR fans, the Kadapa MP said it would have been better had the high command announced financial assistance for hundreds of other Congress supporters who died of shock and grief on coming to know about YSR’s death through television reports.

Jagan sought to project the AICC statement as a sort of climb down by the high command in the wake of the overwhelming response to his Odarpu Yatra. “The announcement is a clear indication that the high command had acknowledged the sincerity and necessity in conducting the tour, in the wake of the comments made by some party leaders running down this sacred programme and commenting that the post-YSR shock deaths were fake,” he said.

Reiterating that he would continue the Odarpu Yatra, Jagan said it would be better if all the party MLAs, MPs and leaders accompany him in calling on the bereaved families and addressing their grievances. “It is the only way to pay tributes to the departed leader and instill renewed confidence in the party cadres,” the MP said.