HYDERABAD: Congress MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's comments that MLAs and other public representatives are not allowed to join his yatra have attracted sharp criticism from several senior party leaders today.
"Jagan Mohan Reddy has clearly stated in his open letter that the 'Odarpu yatra' is a personal and non-political tour. Then what is the need for MLAs, MLCs or any political leaders to join the yatra? Why this debate at all"," N Tulasi Reddy, state Congress spokesperson, told reporters.
"We are not ready to accept if he says that politics in the state or the government have gone to the nadir after the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy," P Venkata Rao, MLC and another spokesperson, said.
AICC secretary P Sudhakar Reddy said Jagan should observe restraint.
Health Minister D Nagender said it is not correct to say that Congress leadership has stopped the legislators from taking part in Jagan's yatra.
"It is not correct to say that MLAs have been stopped.
We should all follow the directives of the high command. It is not proper for me to comment on a matter that is being looked at by the high command," he said.
Senior leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao said party will have to take disciplinary action against any leader, howsoever big he may be.
"Former Union Minister K Natwar Singh was close to the party leadership. But, action was taken against him when the situation warranted," he said. .
Another senior leader Palvai Govardhan Reddy said the 'Odarpu yatra' of Jagan would not benefit the Congress.
Rejecting the comments of the senior leaders, former MLA B Govardhan, a Jagan supporter, observed the seniors were speaking like TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu.
"They are talking about the assets of Jagan. This is like Chandrababu Naidu speaking," he said.