Chief Minister K Rosaiah denied that he had made any contradictory statements with regard to his stand on Kadapa MP YS Jagan’s Odarpu Yatra which began in Srikakulam district on Thursday.
The Chief Minister who had been to New Delhi on Wednesday said he made no volte-face concerning Jagan’s yatra. Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, Rosaiah clarified he had only suggested to a few Congress MLAs to honour the sentiments of the party high command whose perception of the Odarpu Yatra is different from what is being projected by the Kadapa MP.
Party supremo Sonia Gandhi has not approved of the yatra is clear from Jagan’s open letter, the Chief Minister suggested. ‘‘However, it is not for me to recommend for or oppose the yatra, the party high command will take care of it,’’ Rosaiah said.
Jagan should have made his stand clear in his open letter, Rosaiah said and declined to comment on the remarks made by party leader Ambatti Rambabu in this connection.
Jagan openly defied the Congress leadership, which has warned him of disciplinary action for starting the yatra.
Changing track on Wednesday evening, Rosaiah said in Delhi that the leadership was not against the yatra but the manner in which it was being conducted. "The yatra should be one of condolence and not like a victory march," Rosaiah said, indicating that the high command had softened its stand.
Sources close to Jagan said he was prepared to face any action as he felt the yatra was his duty as a son to console families of those who died due to shock after his father's death.
The leadership, however, appears worried over the possibility of Jagan emerging powerful in the party.