Deccan Chronicle

Vijay Sai touches Modi’s feet, TD seeks apology

- S.N.C.N. ACHARYULU | DC

Telugu Desam MPs have demanded that YSR Congress MP Vijaya Sai Reddy tender an unconditio­nal apology to the people of Andhra Pradesh for hurting the self-respect of Telugu people by touching the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

They said it is an insult to the state because people are agitating for special status, which the Modi government refused.

After a long break, the Prime Minister attended the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. As he entered, the BJP and other MPs stood up and greeted him with folded hands. Once he had taken his seat, Mr Vijaya Sai Reddy went up to him and touched his feet. Mr Modi blessed him by putting his hand on Mr Reddy’s head.

Telugu Desam MPs C.M. Ramesh, Y.S. Chowdary and others demanded that Mr Reddy apologise to the people of AP for hurting their self-respect.

However, Mr Reddy countered them by alleging that Mr Ramesh had earlier touched the feet of finance minister Arun Jaitley after he and Mr Chowdhary held talks with the PM and FM in the House.

This episode has given the TD ammunition to use against its main rival YSRC. TD leaders alleged that the YSRC is playing a double game and is not sincere in seeking the special status for AP, even though it has given a notice for a no-confidence motion against the NDA government.

The TD leaders allege

C.M. Ramesh had earlier touched the feet of finance minister Arun Jaitley after he and Chowdhary held talks with Mr Modi and FM in the House. VIJAYA SAI REDDY, MP, YSRC

that Mr Reddy has compromise­d the states interests for the sake of having cases against him and his party leader Jaganmohan Reddy removed.

Mr Vijaya Sai Reddy, however, aimed his attack on AP Chief Minister Chandrabab­u Naidu asking him to prove his innocence in the cash for vote case. He alleged that Mr Naidu got stay orders in 18 cases by “managing” the institutio­ns.

Telugu Desam MPs have demanded that YSR Congress MP Vijaya Sai Reddy tender an unconditio­nal apology to the people of Andhra Pradesh for hurting the self-respect of Telugu people by touching the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Vijaya Sai Reddy, however, criticised AP Chief Minister N. Chandrabab­u Naidu saying he could not compare him to Vijay Mallya, as he had done on an earlier occasion, because Mallya is an economic offender while he has not taken a single rupee from the banks.

On the other hand, Mr Reddy said TD MP Sujana Chowdary is a defaulter of bank loans, and C.M. Ramesh is a person who sold “Natu Sara” (country liquor).

He said he will expose details of Mr Ramesh’s wrong doing within two days.

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