Congress on Friday refused to be dragged into the controversy surrounding the yatra of Andhra Pradesh MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy saying it was a case of an individual MP and as it was limited to one state, only the PCC president concerned could comment on it.
"It (the yatra) is a state specific issue. This is a case of an individual MP and a state. Only the AICC in-charge of the state or the PCC President can comment on it after ascertaining the facts," party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters in New Delhi.
Notwithstanding party chief Sonia Gandhi's reservations about it, Jagan resumed his controversial yatra to console party workers grieving his father's loss.
Jagan, 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 had 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."
Asked about the party's directive to the Kadappa MP on the issue, Ahmed said that the AICC in-charge of the state (M Veerappa Moily) was seized of the matter and would ascertain the facts. "It is an internal matter of the party and would be sorted out," the spokesman added.
To a query about the Election Commission being approached for the formation of a political party named after Jaganmohan's father and former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Ahmed said he had no information about it. "Anyone can approach the Election Commission for getting a political party registered," said the spokesman. PTI
