New Delhi:
Downplaying the decision of its defiant MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to go ahead with his controversial 'Odarpu' yatra, Congress on Wednesday said it was not worried about such an issue.
"There are far greater issues to deal with, like the Jammu and Kashmir situation and the economy. This is not an issue on which we are worried about," party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters in New Delhi.
She said, "this is an issue of one MP".
Asked whether Jaganmohan, son of former Chief Minister Y S R Reddy had defied the party directive by undertaking the yatra, Natarajan said, "I am sure the MP knows what the party line is."
She said the AICC in-charge of the state M Veeraappa Moily (who is currently abroad) will look into the issue at the state level.
A senior party leader also dismissed suggestions that Jaganmohan had rebelled against the party.
"It is an emotional issue. He is new to politics. It could be a childish behaviour on his party," the leader said on condition of anonymity.
These statements come on a day when Jagan resumed his yatra even as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah asked his Cabinet colleagues and party legislators to stay away from the Kadapa MP's campaign.
Notwithstanding party chief Sonia Gandhi's reservations about it, Jaganmohan had decided to resume his controversial yatra to console party workers grieving his father's loss.
Jaganmohan, who had defied the party directive against undertaking the yatra in May also, had met Gandhi along with his family members on June 29 to seek her permission for the tour.
During the meeting, Gandhi had suggested assembling the affected families at one place to console them and also to offer financial assistance.
In an open letter to the people, he Jaganmohan said, "We explained to her the need to resume the yatra to console the family members of those who died following the death of my father. She (Sonia Gandhi) did not cite any specific reason but did not appear to be favourably inclined over resuming the yatra."