Venkataswamy's Motives Questioned

Senior dalit leader and former Union minister Gudisela Venkataswamy's remarks against the party President Sonia Gandhi received severe criticism from many congress functionaries including State Minister For Rural Development Dokka Manikya Varaprasad Rao, who condemned the former's views saying that it was below his stature.

Addressing media persons at the state Secretariat on Wednesday, Varaprasad Rao found fault with Swamy for speaking against a leader of national status.

A Dalit himself, the minister stated that he was at a loss to understand what induced the old veteran to belittle Sonia Gandhi.

"He is always very calculated. He never spoke out of the way at any press meeting," said the Minister. Unless there was some ulterior motive, he never attributed anything to anybody and the current outburst lowered his own position, Varaprasad Rao opined.

"YSR had offered a cabinet post to the PRP leader. The former Chief Minister saw that the Congress party just managed to secure a pass marks in the 2009 elections,” the minister pointed out, "and he saw no reason why he should not enlist the support of PRP and cement an alliance," Varaprasad Rao continued.

Union Defence Minister A K Antony inviting the PRP leader for talks with Sonia Gandhi was in no way inferior, as certain changes did occur in the political parties, the minister added.

Varaprasad Rao thinks that there is a calculated move behind Venkataswamy's utterances, as the senior leader never deviated from his measured speech at any point. "What was the rationale behind his attack and what is it that he wanted to achieve, would be clear shortly," observed Mr Varaprasad Rao.

Further, he is not only a senior SC leader, but is also held in high esteem among the dalits, the minister added.

Asked whether he thought if Venkataswamy would start a party, Varaprasad Rao stated that he was at a liberty to do so.

Stating that values were more important than personal ambitions, the minister revealed his differences with the senior leader, saying that he had little respect for a person who after deriving benefits from the party, spoke ill of its President. "It is utterly wrong," said Varaprasad Rao.

At yet another press meeting, Congress MP Undavalli Arunkumar made clear the attempt to gain PRP's support was the high command's decision, as the party required his backing for obvious reasons.

A letter addressed by former Chief Minister YSR, which stressed upon the need to achieve PRP's support, was put before the media.

Sonia Gandhi's contribution and her working hours were more than that of any leader, the MP pointed out, and added it was incorrect to heap the blames on her. She took the decision keeping the party's interests above personal ambitions, the MP stated.

Courtesy: INN