Congress nails Jagan Yatra lies

The Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, invited trouble once again on Tuesday by stating that the Congress leadership had permitted him to continue his Odarpu Yatra in non-Telangana districts, provoking an angry response from the high command that no such consent was given.

With this, the 37-year-old ambitious and impulsive MP has suffered a major loss of face both at Delhi and at the home front.

On Monday night, Mr Jagan was reprimanded by the political secretary of the Congress president, Mr Ahmed Patel, for taking out the yatra and was told clearly that he should postpone his tour of non-Telangana districts too. But on Tuesday morning, Mr Jagan met the in-charge of AP Congress affairs, Mr Veerappa Moily, and after coming out of the meeting, said that he had been given permission to tour Srikakulam district from June 8. “Mr Moily gave me the go-ahead with a smile,” said Mr Jagan. “He also told me that he will convince Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Mr Ahmed Patel on allowing me to continue the tour. I am very happy the high command has accepted my explanation.”

n Page 4: Moily denies clearing Jagan yatra