Vijayawada, April 9 Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President Y. S. Sharmila Reddy on Thursday criticised her brother and YSR Congress Party president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for what she described as a departure from the ideals of their late father and Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR).
She advised her brother to undertake an Athma-Vimarshana Yatra (a journey of self-reflection) rather than a symbolic padayatra.
Sharmila launched an attack on her brother on the occasion marking 23 years since YSR's historic padayatra.
She made a sharp statement after Jagan Mohan Reddy shared his thoughts on YSR’s padayatra on social media.
Recalling the legacy of YSR, his daughter emphasised that his padayatra was not merely a political exercise but a transformative movement rooted in the welfare of the poor, marginalised, and downtrodden.
She noted that he undertook the journey as a committed Congress leader, bringing the party to power, eventually serving as Chief Minister, and earning an enduring place in the hearts of the people.
Drawing a contrast with the present, she questioned the political direction of her brother Jagan Mohan Reddy. Despite leading a party that carries YSR’s name, she alleged that his governance and political choices stand in stark opposition to the ideals upheld by his father.
Sharmila Reddy criticised what she described as a departure from secular values and accused him of yielding to “fascist and capitalist forces” for political survival.
She raised concerns over what she termed silence on key national issues, including policies affecting minorities, Dalits, and civil liberties, while extending support to those in power at the national level.
Highlighting the governance record of the past five years, she further alleged that incidents of atrocities against Dalits, women, and minorities have brought disrepute to society, questioning whether such actions align with the legacy of Dr. YSR.
Earlier, Jagan Mohan Reddy, through a post on ‘X’, recalled the transformative impact of the historic padayatra undertaken by YSR.
The former Chief Minister stated that a leader’s foot march has the power to rewrite the history of a state.
He remembered how, on April 9, 2003, YSR embarked on his padayatra under the scorching sun to share in the hardships of the people, instilling confidence in their hearts and assuring them that he stood by them. That journey earned overwhelming public support and ultimately made YSR the Chief Minister.
YS Jagan noted that from signing the file on free power for farmers on his very first day in office, YSR went on to introduce several landmark reforms and welfare schemes that transformed the state’s trajectory, uplifting farmers, empowering women to stand on their own feet, and providing security to marginalised communities.
He highlighted how YSR’s initiatives enabled countless poor children to become doctors, engineers, and civil servants, while accelerating irrigation and drinking water projects, including the Polavaram project, a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh.
Emphasising that YSR’s imprint on education, healthcare, agriculture, and industrial sectors remains indelible, YS Jagan said that, as 23 years are being marked since that historic padayatra, his own journey continues, inspired by those ideals and that enduring legacy.
--IANS
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