I am forever a Congressman,uncle tells Jagan

Strongly condemning the allegation made by Jagan in his letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi that the Congress high command tried to engineer a split in the family by offering him a Cabinet berth,Vivekananda Reddy made it clear that he went to Delhi and sought audience with Sonia on his own.

Vivekananda Reddy’s assertion came after a brief meeting he had with Jagan at the family estate at Idupulapaya in Kadapa district earlier in the day.

The meeting was reportedly held at the behest of some family members who wanted to broker peace between Jagan and his uncle in the wake of the bad blood between the two.

The meeting is understood to have ended with bitterness as Jagan was angry with his uncle’s comments that he would make Jagan express regrets for his criticism of Sonia.

Vivekananda Reddy disclosed he had a lengthy meeting with Sonia in Delhi during which he got clarifications on many issues.

Reddy also said he met party leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad,Veerappa Moily and Ahmed Patel in New Delhi on his own.

Showering praise on Sonia,he said the Congress high command has never tried to split the YS family and that there is no need for them to do so.

“If aspiring for a Cabinet berth is my mistake,I seek an apology,” he said,adding that he will remain a Congress worker if the party does not make him a minister.

Praising Sonia for sacrificing the post of Prime Minister,he said she is a great leader like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa.

To a query,he said he will have all the love for Jagan as his brother’s son but will continue in Congress.

Vivekananda Reddy said he wanted to take Jagan to Sonia to bridge the differences but,unfortunately,Jagan chose to resign.

Asked about reports of Jagan launching a new party,he said,”You better ask him.”

Vivekananda Reddy’s assertion that he will remain loyal to the party is seen as a setback for Jagan as the latter enjoys respect and love of the people in Kadapa district,particularly in the Pulivendula Assembly segment which is a family bastion.

Meanwhile,a day after their resignation from the primary membership of Congress,Jagan,his mother Vijaylakshmi and other family members offered homage to late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at his samadhi at Idupulapaya estate.

Some Congress MLAs,loyal to Jagan,like P Srikant Reddy and Adinarayana Reddy,and Nellore Congress MP M Rajamohan Reddy were present on the occasion.