Pro-Jagan cry at YSR condolence meeting

Hyderabad
Sept. 6: A condolence meeting at Gandhi Bhavan, the APCC headquarters, to pay tribute to the late chief minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, was marred by party activists. They displayed placards of Mr Reddy and his son and Kadapa MP, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, and interrupted the speech of the PCC chief, Mr D. Srinivas, by raising slogans like “YSR amar rahe!”, “Jagan-CM”, “DS (PCC chief) down, down” and “DS go back”.
They created such a din that Mr Srinivas found it difficult to continue, and abruptly ended his speech and announced that the meeting was over.
The Chief Minister, Mr. K. Rosaiah, Union minister Mr. Jaipal Reddy, former chief ministers Mr. N. Janardhana Reddy and Mr. N. Bhaskara Rao, and the former PCC chief, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, followed the PCC chief and left the venue.
When the meeting began around 11.15 am, the leaders seated on the dais offered floral tributes to the portrait of the late chief minister placed on the stage. This was followed by multi-religious prayers.
The party general secretary, Mr Anand Bhaskar, then read out the condolence motion and at his request a two-minute silence was observed.
Immediately the party activists gathered at the venue raised slogans like “DS go back”, “DS down down” and waved placards demanding that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy be made chief minister.
Sensing trouble, Mr Srinivas announced that one or two speakers would speak on the motion and thereafter the meeting would be over. He then went to the podium and started speaking.
This only aggravated the situation. The party workers stood up on their chairs and shouted more slogans against him. This prompted the PCC chief to end the meeting.
Rajya Sabha member and longtime friend of the late chief minister, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, appealed to the workers to restrain themselves and remain calm. “I, as a close friend of the late YSR, appeal to you all and you must listen to me. Rajasekhar Reddy often used to say that ‘though we are two persons, we are one meaning thereby of a unified soul’. You should not resort to such activities.” His words had some effect and the audience settled down.
Mr Ramachandra Rao continued with his speech in a choked voice and said, “You are doing harm to the late YSR’s ideals and also to your wish (of making Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy chief minister). This is not proper, this meeting is intended for passing a condolence motion, but your acts are not in the interests of the party. We all know Sonia Gandhi will go by the popular voice and take decisions accordingly, please be calm.” After this, the meeting passed the motion for a second time.