Hyderabad:
Fans of the late YSR Reddy will soon have not one but two yatras to choose from. Unable to stop YSR's son, Jagan Mohan, from continuing with his "Odarpu yatra", the Congress has decided to launch its own tour.
YSR died in a helicopter crash in September when he was Chief Minister. In the weeks that followed, hundreds of families complained that they had lost members who died from shock or grief. YSR's son, Jagan, who was not picked by the Congress as the new Chief Minister, launched a consolation tour of sorts in May this year. He said he wanted to visit the homes of people who'd died in a sort of solidarity with his own family's tragedy. The party, aware that this was going to be a massive show of strength, warned Jagan not to launch his tour. He did, deciding to continue with it even after violence erupted during its early phase when he tried to enter the politically-sensitive region of Telangana.
The next leg of the Jagan tour kicks off from Prakasam in coastal Andhra Pradesh on September 3, a day after YSR's first death anniversary.
In Delhi, senior Congress leaders Veerappa Moily and Ahmed Patel have reportedly told the Andhra Pradesh Congress to conduct Odarpu yatras in every district - a statue of YSR will be installed at every district headquarter for the party. Families who lose a member after YSR's death will also be invited to a common location to receive compensation.
Congress MLAs in Prakasam have also been warned not to attend Jagan's tour.
"Ahmed Patel (Political Secretary of Congress President Sonia Gandhi) told us not to participate in the yatra. We will discuss the matter with our activists in my constituency and take a decision," said the Congress MLA from Prakasam district, Ugranarasimha Reddy.
The state's Mining Minister has RSVP-ed Jagan. B Srivias Reddy is also related to Jagan, and said, "We will be definitely participating in the yatra because of our association and relationship with late Rajasekhara Reddy," Srinivas Reddy said.