Congress's Christianity 'trick' backfires in Andhra Pradesh

                                                                                 
Andhra Congress leaders' plan to make an issue out of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhra Reddy's religious faith -- Christianity -- to woo back the Reddy community is all set to backfire.

YSR Congress party, headed by the late Chief Minister's son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, has launched a counter-attack by questioning the nationality of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the secular credential of the party.

Besides, Jagan's party is further looking to exploit the issue to woo the Dalit Christians to support the rebel MP.

"Some Congress leaders are trying to bring in caste and religious equations to scale down the growing popularity of YSR Congress Party. These leaders should also have asked the caste and religion of their party president before raising such a hue and cry," YSR Congress party spokesman Bajireddy Goverdhan said.

Another Jagan loyalist, Jupudi Prabhakar Rao, said that the dichotomy of the Congress party has been exposed in raking up the Christian faith of Jagan.

"If Jagan is viewed in communal and caste angles, people will definitely raise the question about the nationality and religion of Sonia Gandhi. While the Congress leaders defend the nationality and religion of Sonia Gandhi with fierce loyalty, they are now trying to play the card of caste and creed in an attempt to distance people from YSR," he said.

Rao pointed out that if Congress leaders, such as J C Diwakar Reddy and G Veera Siva Reddy, raise the issue of Jagan's caste and creed to impress their party high command, the very secular credentials of the Congress party would be at stake.

"The true colours of the Congress have been exposed as it is parroting what the communal forces once said by bringing forbidden issues to the fore," Rao said, adding that bringing the Bible and Quran, or church and mosque, into the electoral skirmishes was not in good taste.

The Jagan camp is of the view that raking up YSR's Christianity issue would be counter-productive to the Congress party, which had so far been enjoying the support of Dalit Christians.

"Half of the two crore Dalits in the state are Christians and they regularly go to Church. If the Congress finds fault with Jagan going to Church despite being a Reddy, it would definitely anger the Dalit Christians, who will shift their loyalty to Jagan. This apart, the sanctity of the places of worship should not become material for electoral propaganda," the YSR Congress party leader said.

Rao sought to know on what basis the Congress high command had chosen YSR as the Chief Minister -- his caste, religion, popularity or the peoples' mandate?

Moreover, Goverdhan suspected that the Congress leaders raising the issue of YSR's Christianity had the support of the high command. "Let the party make it an election issue and see what the repercussions would be," he declared.
FROM INDIA TODAY

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/congress-christianity-jagan-mohan-reddy-religion-andhra/1/185024.html

Cong questions Jagan’s ‘Reddy’ credentials

                                                                       
In a desperate attempt to win back the loyalties of the influential Reddy community ahead of the by elections in Andra Pradesh, Congress has questioned if YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy can be regarded as a member of the community when his family follow Christianity.
Jagan is a third generation Roman Catholic Christian as his grandfather Raja Reddy was baptised as a Catholic several decades ago. His family continues to follow Catholic traditions. Former minister and Anantapur strongman J C Diwakar Reddy said Jaganmohan couldn't belong to the Reddy community because "he is a devout Christian".

"He cannot call himself a Reddy because his family strictly follows Catholic traditions, not Hindu customs," he said.

By raising the caste issue, Congress hopes to win back Reddies who were once the party’s backbone and dominate the poll-bound Rayalaseema region. The community had been carefully cultivated  by the late Y S Rajasekar Reddy and, when Jagan broke away from the Congress after the party refused to anoint him as his father’s successor, shifted their allegiance to him.

Kamalapuram MLA and another Congress stalwart from Rayalaseema G Veerasiva Reddy said: “ We have to win the Reddy community back for the Congress to retain power in the next elections."
The leaders targeted Jagan’s brother-in-law Anil Kumar, who became Christian after marrying YSR’s daughter Sharmila and a known evangelist, saying he is forming his own mission to spread Christianity across the country.  "With this family background, how can Jaganmohan claim that he is a Reddy?" Diwakar Reddy asked.

Reacting to the Congress’ tactics, a YSR Congress spokesperson said a fitting reply would be given at a more appropriate time. The Congress, with a view to attacking Jagan from all fronts, is also questioning his  stand on Telangana.
FROM deccanherald

Jagan Mohan congratulates DRDO on Agni-V launch

                                                                      
Hyderabad, Apr 19 ): Describing the launch of Agni-V to be a remarkable accomplishment, YSR Congress Party President, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Thursday said the DRDO is well poised to achieve many more such milestones and make the nation truly proud of its advancements in missile technology.
Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated the DRDO scientists for the successful test-fire of Agni-V that enabled India to join the elite Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) club.
"The successful launch of Agni-V, which has a 5,000-km range, is a giant step in the country's ballistic missile programme and I congratulate each and every member of the team that built the long range missile," he said.
India is now a force to reckon with as it stands alongside with US, Russia, China, France and UK in ballistic missile development technology.
Setting a new milestone in the country's Integrated Missile Development Programme, India's maiden Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM) Agni-V was successfully flight-tested today.

No Jagan in Congress, no change of CM, says Ravi

                                                                      
Even if he wanted to, the chances of Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy returning to the Congress fold now look dim with Congress president’s emissary Union minister Vayalar Ravi ruling out any such move on Wednesday. Mr Ravi also ruled out the possibility of a change of Chief Minister. Mr Ravi is on a special mission to assess the situation in the state and ensure that the Congress makes impressive gains in the by-elections in 18 Assembly constituencies and the Nellore Lok Sabha constituency.
Speaking to select newspersons on Wednes-day evening, he said that Andhra Pradesh is an important state for the Congress, but has been facing problems that must be ironed out. Mr Ravi admitted that he has received several complaints from within the party about lapses in administration and disunity between the party and the government.

from dc

Jagan sees conspiracy to tarnish YSR image

                                                                       

YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Wednesday alleged that Congress leaders were conspiring to tarnish the image of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy terming him anti-dalit and anti-farmer. He said that the downtrodden sections were blessing the YSR Congress Party indicating their respect to Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

Addressing a public meeting at Narasannapeta on Wednesday night after completing his four-day roadshow in the constituency, he charged that Kiran Kumar Reddy's government failed to implement YSR's flagship programmes such as Indiramma housing scheme and Rajiv Arogya Sree.

Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy expressed concern over the plight of farmers who were not able to get remunerative price for their produce. He urged the people to vote YSR Congress Party candidate Dharmana Krishnadas in the by-elections since he resigned as a legislator to protect the interests of farmers.

Meanwhile, a few people suffered injuries in the stampede during the public meeting. With the imposition of power cut, many people who attended the public meeting were put to hardship
from hindu

YSRCP demands road repairs

                                                                          
YSR Congress Party leader Manoj Kothari on Wednesday asked West MLA Y. Srinu to take up the road repair works at several places in One Town. While appreciating the under drainage works, he said that the roads dug up for the purpose were not repaired yet. He also asked the MLA to provide a night shelter to migration workers.
from hindu