Hyderabad, March 28: Congress leaders have expressed serious concern at the continuing infighting, gross indiscipline and open criticism of the leadership which they said caused irreparable damage to the party.
At a programme organised by the AP Congress Committee here on Sunday to felicitate party chief D. Srinivas and attended by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and former PCC chiefs, speakers referred to the tiring times faced by the party due to open infighting.
The anti-party activities of certain MLAs, mutual acrimony among senior leaders, attempts to run down top leadership and alleged corruption by former MP Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy found echo at the meeting. Leaders appealed for unity and an end to infighting besides cracking the whip against rebels to instil confidence among the cadres.
Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy tried to impress upon the fact that party was important than individuals. “If party is there we can always come to power. Individuals get recognition because of party,” he said adding that he would do everything to strengthen the party.
He credited late YSR and Mr. Srinivas of successfully bringing the Congress back to power in 2004 and 2009.
Union Minister for Petroleum S. Jaipal Reddy referred to problems faced by the State Congress and hoped that the problem could be overcome with united efforts. Former Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said setbacks and reverses in the elections were nothing new to the Congress and it was confident of overcoming it.
Mr. Srinivas disapproved of party seniors running down each other and directed them to stop such activities. On disciplinary actions, he said the high command has to act against the MPs and MLAs for violating party discipline. “The present political situation in the party is preventing the leadership from acting against the erring leaders,” he admitted. He urged leaders not to create problems for the party president Sonia Gandhi, who is preoccupied with other activities.
Rajya Sabha member V.Hanumantha Rao came down heavily on the anti-party activities of MLAs loyal to Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy.
Launching a tirade against the former MP and his supporters, he demanded that the Chief Minister order a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities and corruption by the former.
Action sought
He sought stern action against the rebels to boost the morale of the party cadres.
He took a dig at the deteriorating law and order in the city referring to the murder of former naxal leader Sambasivudu and an advocate.
Former Chief Ministers Nadendla Bhaskara Rao and Mr. K. Rosaiah, former APCC chiefs – M. Satyanarayana Rao, Mr. Hanumantha Rao, P.Narsa Reddy, M.A. Azeez and vice-chairman of National Disaster Management Authority M. Sashidhar Reddy were felicitated.
–Agencies