Cabinet minister P Shankar Rao condemned the comments made by his father-in-law and former Union Minister Gudisela Venkataswamy, and demanded that the latter be expelled from the Congress party for his anti-party activities.
The minister, who is in Turkey to oversee the arrangements of 'India Show' stall at the international exhibition scheduled to be held there, lashed out through a cable sent to media persons at Venkataswamy for his anti-Congress and anti-Sonia stand, particularly after taking full advantage of the party.
Venkataswamy's blaming Sonia Gandhi was termed as 'outrageous' and Shankar Rao endorsed the former as mentally unstable. Considering the fact that Dr. Shankar Rao is Ventakataswamy's son-in-law and also holds a medical degree, his endorsement raised many an eyebrow here.
The invitation extended to Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) President K Chiranjeevi by the high command through Defence Minister A K Antony was not the immediate provocation for Swamy.
Swamy's actual grouse was that he did not receive support from the state government when he tried to resist film star Srikanth's advances for the recovery of lands belonging to him.
At another meeting, Labour Minister Danam Nagender demanded that Venkataswamy tender an unconditional apology to Sonia Gandhi immediately.
The outbursts of Swamy were uncalled for, Nagender said.
Meanwhile, Venkataswamy ruled out withdrawal of his comments against Sonia Gandhi, and on the other hand, challenged the party to expel him.
Courtesy: INN
filed in:Congress, Gudisela Venkataswamy, P Shankar Rao