When YSR set on that historic padayatra in the hot summer of 2002, the temperatures crossed 50̊ Celsius everywhere from Chevella to Ichapuram. I was in Andhra Pradesh at the same time and could not walk a mile in that heat. I had to be administered saline after spending half a day on his yatra in West Godavari. But he walked all of 1500 km, even though he was severely sick for a week in the middle. This quality of enduring boundless physical and mental pain, along with wanting to better the common man’s life and keeping his promises at any cost made him the most lovable leader of the masses in the history of the state. You won’t find any other leader with such passionate followers and well-wishers.

With YSR’s departure comes his son YS Jagan in to the limelight and what we are seeing is historical. His resolve beyond comprehension, his determination boundless, his endurance beyond belief and the reception of the masses in the extreme weather a sight to behold. His defiance to Congress High Command to take up this yatra and people responding to make it a grand success makes everyone shiver - masses that like YSR and Jagan with ecstasy and his opponents within and outside Congress with fear.

There were several comments from different quarters that YS Jagan was too eager for power and he does not have the maturity, etc. If you look at what has happened after YSR’s sudden demise and the days leading to his defiance, he never acted illogically. He never hurried himself in to any dubious decisions. He is always looking at all the scenarios and taking stock of what is going on and making the right decisions. Some people may say he should not have gone head to head against the High Command. He seems to have his own thoughts. He interacted with Sonia Gandhi, Ahmad Patel and Veerappa Moily. Only he knew what happened in those discussions and we were not privy to them. With all these senior leaders acting up with the High Command behind them, YS Jagan may have figured their game plans and he acted to check those. His master plan of going to the people has worked out great and he has shown everyone from gully to Delhi who he is and what kind of support he enjoys among the people.

With this Odarpu yatra, he proved his maturity beyond doubt. He did not show any eagerness for anything other than building his mass base. The yatra has been a very tiring, exhaustive, mind numbing even for us watching from a distance. From morning to early morning and among huge gatherings everywhere. He did not utter one embarrassing statement. He was all good and well. In the mean time, the so called mature people have been making irresponsible and immature statements.

Friends, any doubts YS Jagan is beyond all these petty politicians and his resolve beyond belief?

Go Jagan Go. Roar like a tiger. We, Congress supporters are behind you.

Gurava Reddy, Atlanta

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