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There is no question of alliance with Congress

Written By news on Thursday, August 29, 2013 | 8/29/2013

Y S Vijayamma along with daughter Sharmila (right) are handling the party affairs in absence of Jagan.






For 57 years old Y.S. Vijayamma, struggle has become a way of life after the death of  her husband, former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Rajshekhar Reddy. Her son and the president of YSR Congress, Jagan Mohan Reddy, has been in jail for the last 15 months. She along with daughter Sharmila are handling the party affairs in absence of Jagan.
Vijayamma staged a protest over division of Andhra Pradesh on Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on August 28. She had also met President Pranab Mukherjee on August 27 to submit a letter on the issue. In an exclusive interaction with India Today she spoke on Andhra Pradesh politics, her party ideology and options in the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Excerpts from her interview

Q. You were here to protest against the formation of Telangana. But Congress has already decided on it. Do you think your protests will make much difference? 

A. The people don't want the state bifurcated. However the politically motivated decision of the Congress Working Committee for garnering votes and seats has created a rift between the people of two regions. Both Congress and TDP are to blame for this agony of the state. And if you remember Chidambaram said in his reply in Parliament that this is a decision of a party not government. So options are still open. 

Q. But it is only a matter of time when the Government will propose this in Parliament. To what extent are you planning to fight for united Andhra? 

A. We will fight till the end. If the decision to create a separate Telangana gets approval from Parliament, we will go to court. However this would take time. Unlike Congress we are not doing it keeping elections in mind. It is out state and we need to fight for it. And if you see this agitation, it is by and large apolitical and voluntary as a number of NGOs, teachers, lawyers, transport associations are actively participating in it. 

Q. What are the burning questions which your party is focusing on? 

A. If the state is divided, what will happen to the investments of the people from Andhra region? Is it possible to move all these industries? 70 per cent of the state revenue comes from Hyderabad while eight per cent of the people live there. Is it possible to create a new town like Hyderabad? Will the Central Government be able to promote all the institutions of higher learning and civil and defense research laboratories besides the public sector units in Andhra region. This decision has been taken in haste without any blueprint of division. 

Q. Congress thinks that they will benefit in Telangana region electorally. 

A.  It is an illusion. They are losing every by-election in the state. The current Congress government is completely confused. Most of the leaders are opposed to the decision but they have to follow the order of central leadership.  Just wait and watch as Congress will pay the price for it. 

Q. How is your party positioned in the coming Assembly elections? 

A.  We have decided to fight all the assembly seats and Lok Sabha seats on our own. We won't partner with anyone in these elections. Going by the response of people, I am confident of a good show by our party. 

Q. Has Congress contacted you for an alliance especially for the Lok Sabha polls? 

A. I don't know where the rumour came from. The truth is no one from Congress including Digvijaya Singh has called me for an alliance. There is no question of alliance with Congress at the moment. My son has been lodged in jail for 15 months now. In normal course everyone gets bail in ninety days but here the CBI comes up with arguments to delay the bail on the name of investigation. Till date they haven't been able to find an asset not mentioned by Jagan in the affidavit filed in 2009 before election commission. There is no proof of any benami property as alleged by the CBI. Everyone knows who is doing this. 

Q. Have you met with Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently? 

A. I met her last along with my son and daughter in June 2010. We requested her to allow Jagan to start Odarpu Yatra as this was important for us. We just wanted to thank people of Andhra for their support to my family and show that we are with them. But she has no humanity. She didn't allow it. 

Q. What would you say if she calls you for support or requests you to rejoin the party? 

A. This is a hypothetical question. Whoever we will support that will be completely on or terms. Probably I would ask her as why is my son going through all this. As a mother it's very painful for me but at the same time it gives me strength. Everything happened very quickly. First it was my husband's death and then my son going to jail. I have become used to this now. I go and meet Jagan twice a month, sometimes more. His courage and concern for the people gives me strength. 

Q. If it is not Congress then is your party open for an alliance with the BJP because at the national level you would have to choose between the two. What do you think of Modi as a leader? 

A. We are a pluralistic society, where everyone exists and we need to do things for all sections of the society. BJP doesn't seem to follow that. As a state leader Modi is very good as I hear a lot about his development work. But somehow he still hasn't come out of his earlier image and incidents like Godhra are still a concern for a section of the society. We won't partner with BJP at all. 

Q. Would you support an alternative other than Congress and BJP? 

A. It is difficult to say at this moment. These are things which we can only decide after elections. Our priority currently is to keep fighting for the people of united Andhra Pradesh.


http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/interview-with-y.s.-vijayamma-honourary-president-ysr-congress/1/304315.html
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