Claiming that the difference between party and its Kadappa MP from Andhra Pradesh over his “Odarpu” yatra is a domestic affair, the Congress on Wednesday said that the party was capable of handling the issue.
AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh and law minister Veerappa Moily, who on Tuesday refuted the claims made by Mr Reddy that he was allowed by Central leadership to continue with his yatra, on Wednesday refused to comment any further on the issue. “I don’t want to comment anymore on Jagan....” Mr Moily said, adding that the Congress was “capable of managing” its own home. “It is a domestic affair, we will manage it,” he emphasised.
However, when reporters persisted with the questions, Mr Moily said he could not make a statement daily on the issue. “I cannot generate and regenerate a statement daily,” he said.
Standoff between the Congress and Mr Reddy took a new turn on Tuesday when the Kadappa MP claimed that the party had given him the go-ahead to continue with his yatra. Since he made the claim immediately after meeting the law minister, Mr Moily refuted by saying that the issue of his yatra was not discussed in the meeting.
Mr Reddy had claimed that the Congress leader gave him a green signal to continue with the yatra and “this tour of mine was widely appreciated by him.” But, hours later, Mr Moily told reporters: “I never told him to go-ahead nor did he ask my permission.”
Mr Moily had said that there was “no question of giving permission” when he had not discussed the issue with him. “Our advice is better he desists from going ahead with the yatra,” he had informed.