Hyderabad, January 18: The threat posed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to the Congress is being dismissed as a “small thing” by Pradesh Congress Committee president Dharmapuri Srinivas though 24 MLAs took part in his Jala Deeksha at Delhi recently .
Though the party is rattled internally, it is putting up a brave front, saying that the issue could be sorted out. “Let us not talk about small things. Let us talk about good things,” Srinivas told reporters when asked whether the party would tolerate the MLAs who attacked party president Sonia Gandhi.
Srinivas, however, said that the party high command was taking a serious view of MLAs’ behaviour but would not say what action the party was contemplating against them. He merely said the party would take a decision on action at an appropriate time.
The PCC chief visited Gandhi Bhavan, the the state Congress headquarters, today after the party high command asked him to continue in the office. “There is no question of taking charge now. The party has asked me to continue the job,” Srinivas remarked. The PCC chief made an attempt to sound as though the Congress was capable of solving the two contentious issues before them _ growing dissidence in the party and the Telangana issue. “We will solve them without much hassle,” he said. “The two issues are not new to me,” he added.
Asked what action the Congress high command was contemplating against MLAs supporting Jagan Mohan Reddy, Srinivas evaded a direct reply. On some Congress leaders hinting that the party would take action against rebellious MLAs, the PCC chief wanted journalists to seek clarification from those who issued such statements.
On Union home minister inviting two representatives from each political party to the next meeting in Delhi to discuss the Srikrishna Committee report, Srinivas said the home minister invited two leaders from each party and if any party wanted to express only one opinion it may send only one leader. The second leader might be useful to discuss and clarify their respective party stand, he added.
Asked about the need for such meetings now after the Srikrishna Committee report was out and the Centre had to spell out its stand and take action, the PCC chief said that the Centre was going in a democratic manner and holding discussions with all the parties. They were following certain procedures and eliciting the opinions of all, he added.
Srinivas said he would take measures to strengthen the party in the state with the help of all seniors and thanked party leaders and chiefs of frontal organisations for extending support to him.
–Agencies