YSR would have spat on Congress if ..., says daughter YS Sharmila

YS Sharmila accused the Congress of mistreating her father after his death when the party added his name to an FIR after a chopper crash killed him.

YS Sharmila, the daughter of undivided Andhra Pradesh's former chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy, lambasted the Congress - of which her father was a leader - over the way the party dealt with YSR’s death in a chopper crash.

“If YSR was alive, he would have spat on the Congress,” Sharmila said. The sister of Andhra Pradesh’s now Chief Minister, YS Jagan Reddy, also drew comparison between rallies led by YSR and the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

“When he would hold his padayatra (rallies), people would gather in large numbers and bless him in abundance. Not only in 2004, but in 2009 as well, it was Rajeshakar Reddy who won by a huge number and put the face of Congress on the map,” she said.

“But then, what did the Congress do for that kind of dedicated leader when he died?” Sharmila asked.

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“Didn't they say he was at fault and link his name as well to the FIR? Didn't they cheat him? Did they care? Did they even enquire about his death in that horrible helicopter crash or start an enquiry? Such a great leader - he won on behalf of the party, twice. But did the Congress have any integrity? Didn't the Congress do injustice to Rajeshakar Reddy?” she further said.

“It’s okay they didn't praise him. But to add his name to the FIR - was that right?”