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Jagan Interview: Congress Stage-managed Violence

Jagan Interview: Congress Stage-managed Violence

The Congress stagemanaged the violence in Lok Sabha during the introduction of the bill to grant statehood to Telangana, says YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy, adding that he is mobilising support of all opposition parties.

In an interview with CL Manoj, Reddy makes it clear that the Narendra Modi-led BJP must block the bill if it is seeking his party’s support after the elections. Edited excerpts:

How do you view the Centre’s move to introduce the Telangana bill in Parliament? 
For the first time, Article 3 of the Constitution has been abused, that too in the worst possible manner by the UPA government. Just look at the way the bill was introduced. I feel Congress leadership stagemanaged the entire drama in Lok Sabha, including the so-called pepper-spray attack, as part of a political plot to have the MPs from Seemandhra suspended and get the floor cleared for pushing the bill through.

Do you believe even the pepperspray attack by expelled Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal was part of a plot? 
It was Economic Times that first reported how Rajagopal’s company got a 9,000 crore reprieve in a corporate debt restructuring (CDR) scheme. ET again reported how his bankrupt company was given another loan of 3,500 crore against equity of a mere 239 crore as a bailout package involving 27 banks! Can such things happen without Congress leadership and UPA government pushing his case? How can somebody like Rajagopal even dream of defying the Congress high command when he is so much obliged to them! So, in the name of Rajagopal using a pepper-spray and another TDP member fighting with his party colleague, they got all of us, including those who oppose division of Andhra Pradesh, suspended to clear the Lok Sabha floor to push the bill through. Did anyone see me indulging any violence in the House? No. That is how it was a Congress’ stage-managed show. 

But Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is said to be on the verge of revolting over his party’s push for Telangana... 
Kiran Reddy has no political wherewithal to defy the Congress high command. Congress High command’s wish is Kiran Reddy’s command. He acts as a facilitator (of Telangana) when high command wants him to be and he acts as a rebel when high commands so desires. How does it matter whether he remains in office or quit as CM when Lok Sabha and state assembly elections are about to be announced within days? He stands exposed as a puppet of the Congress high command just as TDP and Chandrababu Naidu stand exposed for their double standards on Telangana. 

How do you plan to do so? 
I will stage a rally and dharna on Monday along with my party colleagues and supporters against the bill. Since I have been thrown out of Lok Sabha, I am trying to mobilise support among all opposition parties to block the Telangana bill. I have met leaders of many opposition parties. I think the role of the BJP, the main opposition party, will be crucial in blocking the bill and averting the break-up of my state. 

Are you laying down opposition to the bill as a condition for postpoll alliance? 
If Andhra Pradesh can be split in this manner, then tomorrow it will be the turn of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal, etc. The BJP has over 100 members in Lok Sabha. If it really stands up and protests, the Congress’ and UPA’s push to get the Telangana bill passed shall be blocked. Yes, my party said it will be support a party that truly protects the unity of AP. I have met Advaniji, Rajnathji, Sushmaji, Jaitleyji, requesting them to take a clear-cut stand in Parliament against the Telangana Bill. 

Will your party support a Narendra Modi-led government if the BJP blocks the Telangana bill? 
For me and YSR Congress, the unity of AP is the most important thing. Since Narendra Modi is a three-term chief minister with administrative experience and record, I am sure he understands how important is the principle of federalism in democracy and how that federal principle is being violated in this attempt to break up AP. That is why I say BJP leaders, including Modiji, must stand up unambiguously and block the bill in Parliament. That is what matters to me now and that is the test for the BJP. Rest of the things, we will see. 

However, many Congress leaders say you are still a Congressman at heart and hope you will lend support to the party after the elections? 
Let them explain what the definition of a Congressman is. In 2004 election manifesto, the Congress promised a second states reorganisation commission to look into the Telangana issue. In 2009 manifesto, Congress promised to go by the Rosaiah committee report. Despite no commission or a report, the Congress is now pushing to break up AP. Is this the definition of a Congressman? If so, let me say I am my father’s son, YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s son. And I, like my father, will fight it out for the unity of AP. 

How did you feel when you were forced to leave Congress and even landed in jail in a corruption case? 
Frankly, I don’t want to look back at that painful episode. I only know God has watched everything. And God knows who was wrong and who was right. It is for God, not me, to forgive those who committed mistakes. Yes, I had to spend 16 months in jail because I was denied my fundamental right to bail on a flimsy ground that I will influence witnesses. When I am in an opposition party, how I could have influenced witnesses in a state ruled by the Congress, which is also in power in India? With the blessing of God and support of people, I am still fighting it out. 

What led to your parting with the Congress despite the fact that your father delivered two consecutive victories and was said to be a close ally of the party president Sonia Gandhi? 
Since around 800 people had committed suicide following my father’s death in the air-crash, I took a public vow to visit each of those families. But, to my surprise, I was denied permission to do that by the Congress leadership for nearly six months. I met Sonia Gandhiji, Ahmed Patel and some others for a couple of times, explaining the reasons why I had to visit those families. I and my mother then met Sonia Gandhiji to explain the whole issue again. But, strangely, she refused to understand or acknowledge our reasoning. She was ready to make me a central minister or a chief minister but would not allow me fulfil what I had promised to the families of those who committed suicide. That means Sonia Gandhiji would rather politically uplift me provided I live without the honour of keeping my word to the people. I decided to go by my heart than head on that issue. 

What do you think of Rahul Gandhi? 
I don’t know him. I, like others, only hear what he says on TV.

Source: EconomicTimes

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