HYDERABAD: RAJAHMUNDRY / HYDERABAD: Congress MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy today regretted the suspension of his close aide Ambati Rambabu from the organisation by the party leadership, while his detractors welcomed the suspension.
"Ambati Rambabu walked with my father for 1,500 km during his 'padayatra' (before 2004 elections). It is because of the work done by activists like him that Congress won Assembly elections twice. I am pained by Rambabu's suspension. It hurt me a lot. I cannot speak more than this. Everybody knows the things that are happening," he said.
When asked if he would speak to the high command regarding the suspension of Rambabu, Jagan said he would do whatever he can (to get it revoked).
Asked if he saw the suspension as an indirect warning to him, he said, "Warning for what? What mistake I am doing to be warned? God is there and I have the blessings of my father."
Jagan was speaking to reporters in East Godavari district on the 7th day of his controversial yatra.
Congress last night suspended Rambabu, a general secretary of state Congress, on the charge of indulging in anti-party activities.
A statement from AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh M Veerappa Moily said Ramababu has been suspended with "immediate effect for his anti-party activities and making anti-party statements".
It was Rambabu's outburst against Chief Minister K Rosaiah that provoked the high command to act against him.
Rambabu has maintained that he has not received any official communication regarding his suspension.
"I came to know from the media and friends that I have been suspended from the party. I have not received any communication from AICC general secretary, in-charge of party affairs in AP M Veerappa Moily or state Congress leadership or any other responsible person. I can only respond to it after finding out the truth," he said.
Rambabu said he was surprised about the reports of his suspension as the disciplinary committee of APCC gave him time till July 31 to respond to the charges made against him.
Meanwhile, the decision of Rambabu's suspension evoked a mixed response from party leaders.
Several MLAs of the Jagan camp like Konda Surekha and D Chandrasekhar Reddy found fault with the party leadership's decision to suspend Rambabu.
"Even a person who is going to be hanged is given a chance to explain his position. So, I feel the suspension of Rambabu is not correct," Konda Surekha said.
Several other lower-rung leaders of the Jagan camp also said the suspension of Rambabu is not fair.
Social Welfare Minister P Subhash Chandra Bose, who took part in Jagan's yatra in his native East Godavari district, described Rambabu's suspension as a family dispute.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs Madhu Yashki Goud, Sarvey Satyanarayana and V Hanumantha Rao, said suspension was inevitable if party discipline was violated.
"Rambabu is not such a big leader to be discussed. A young leader like Jagan is being misled. There are no different factions in Congress. There is only Sonia faction in Congress. This suspension is an appropriate decision," Goud said.