Union Law Minister and Party In-charge For Andhra Pradesh Affairs Veerappa Moily, on Tuesday, denied that he had told Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to go ahead with his Odarpu Yatra.
Jagan had earlier in the day said that the high command had given him its permission to go ahead with the yatra after he explained that the yatra was his responsibility towards the memory of his father. The Kadapa MP had said that Moily had 'widely appreciated' his tour, but Jagan was in for some embarrassment when Moily later clarified to the media that he had never told him to go-ahead nor was he asked for permission.
Moily also said that the party high command was never in favour of the tour in the first place, since it posed a potential for law and order problems. He said the question of giving Jagan permission to go ahead with the yatra in other (non-Telangana) districts never arose since Jagan had consulted no one for permission. He also said it was good for Jagan not to continue with the Odarpu Yatra. He added that, "In the best interests of the party and the state government he need not go anywhere now."
Meanwhile, Jagan has already been facing flak for blaming the Rosaiah government for the Mahabubabad incident of firing - he said the state government thathad failed to protect the women politicians who hailed from weaker sections of society (Konda Surekha and Kavita) from being attacked by the crowd.