Newly-appointed Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y S Sharmila’s game plan of weaning away Christian community from the ruling YSR Congress party by targeting her brother and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy seems to have backfired.
Sharmila deliberately chose to address her brother as “Jagan Reddy” on the lines of Telugu Desam Party leaders and project him as a puppet of Bharatiya Janata Party by questioning his alleged silence on atrocities being perpetrated on Christians in Manipur.
But within no time, Christian groups backing the YSRCP, shot back at her sharply and described her as “Morusupalli Sharmila Sastry,” though she calls herself Y S Sharmila Reddy.
Apparently, they were referring to her husband Anil Kumar’s original name – Morusupalli Anil Sastry, a Brahmin name, before he converted into Christianity.
Association of Integrated Christian Council founder-president Dr John Benny Lingam alleged that Sharmila has been changing colours like a chameleon and attacking her own brother.
“Morusupalli Sharmila Sastry should know that it was the Congress which was responsible for the plight of Andhra people by dividing the state unscientifically. The Congress has betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
Lingam alleged that Sharmila had taken over the reins of the Congress only to create a rift between the Dalits and Christians.
“She is not true Christian. She has to remove the initials of her father “YS” and call herself a Sastry,” he demanded.
Referring to Sharmila’s allegation against Jagan on his silence over violence in Manipur, the Christian leader said what her evangelist-husband Anil Kumar had done for Manipur.
“Why didn’t he visit the areas and help the Christians there?” he asked.
He alleged that Sharmila and her husband had betrayed the Christians of Andhra Pradesh and shifted to Telangana.
“Now, they are back in Andhra only to hoodwink the Christians and Dalits,” he said.
