Cong Unites To Protest Against Sakshi

Even as the state Congress leaders joined hands to show solidarity against the adverse reports published and broadcast by the media house Sakshi owned by Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, the newspaper remained defiant, and justified the stories, saying that it had always stood up to raise its voice against misadministration.

Slamming the alleged 'vilification' campaign against All India Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi by Sakshi, the Congress members turned out in force to stage a protest against the news at YSR's statue at Punjagutta Crossroads on Sunday.

Even as the protest at Punjagutta was going on, Congress MPs from Telangana met at MP Vivekananda's residence, and demanded that Jagan issue an apology to the Congress president and the party.

The Congress members, led by Health and Family Welfare Minister Danam Nagender, Information Technology Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, and Congress Mahila Wing president and MLC Ganga Bhavani, sought to compare the "loyalty and dedication "of the Kadapa MP's father with the stance taken by Jagan.

Addressing the gathering at the statue, Danam said that YSR, "who had wished to see AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi in the Prime Minister's post after the 2014 general election", established the newspaper and channel to strengthen the Congress party in the state by popularizing the schemes and programs launched for the poor and the middle class.

He regretted that Jaganmohan Reddy had turned around the tool to campaign for the party against it by carrying out a "hateful campaign" against the Congress leadership.

Danam also accused Jagan for his stand against chief minister K Rosaiah by stating that the government had failed to implement YSR's schemes and programmes.

"There is no truth in the reports published in his newspaper. Chief minister K Rosaiah is committed in letter and spirit to implement the schemes envisaged and launched by YSR. I don't understand why Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy is carrying out this malicious campaign against the Congress leadership," he stated.

Objecting to the alleged anti-party campaign, Information Technology Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy demanded that Jagan withdraw his remarks and publish an apology and a rejoinder in the newspaper immediately.

He said that any leader of the Congress reserves the right to challenge any worker or leader who makes adverse remarks against Sonia Gandhi Rahul Gandhi. He also warned Jagan of "serious consequences" if he doesn't withdraw his remarks immediately and issue an apology.

The IT Minister stated that a repetition of such remarks damaging the image of party can invite the wrath of the High Command and serious action could be initiated against him soon.

Congress Mahila Wing chief Ganga Bhavani advised Jagan to impose self-restrictions and self-control before issuing and launching such "hateful campaigns" against the Congress high command.

Meanwhile, there are reports of Youth Congress workers staging protests outside Sakshi offices in Karimnagar, Chirala and Nellore.

At Karimnagar, the workers burnt copies of the newspaper, and demanded that a retraction of the anti-Congress news stories be issued, along with an apology. Burning of copies of the newspaper was also reported from other places in the state.

Courtesy: INN