YSR’s Death – This is Congress Culture

By

B.N.Gururaj, Advocate

One is compelled to harbour mixed feelings about the death of Y.S.Rajashekara Reddy, the CM of Andhra Pradesh. The response to his death shows that he was a hugely popular leader within his State and might have risen to great heights even in the national politics. But, that was not to be. He died, the way he did.

The dynastic rule is so thoroughly imbibed by the Congressmen, that almost like a knee jerk reaction, there are moves to make Rajashekara Reddy’s impetuous son the successor. Apparently, all is not well with this move, either within the AP congress or at the centre. Hence, there has been some delay.

This step, of elevating the son to incumbency is not something unusual. Almost twenty five years ago, when Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her body guards, even as her body was awaiting cremation, the congress leaders, in unceremonious haste got Rajiv Gandhi, then a total political novice except for being a junior MP, sworn in as the next PM. I wonder how Rajiv Gandhi agreed to it, when his mother lay dead, that too killed in a ghastly manner. But, then that seems to be the seductive force of power. All decency and caution thrown to wind. Even son did not care for the dead mother, in his haste to grab the thrown.

Now, this drama is being enacted in Andhra Pradesh, paradoxically under the Presidency of none other than Rajiv Gandhi’s widow Sonia Sphinx Gandhi! There is no end to public indecency and shamelessness.

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From Hindu view point, death of Rajashekara Reddy has significance. A closet Christian, he did not display his Christian credentials in public life, and passed for whatever he was prior to converting to Christianity. During his time, Christian evangelism reached its zenith in Andhra Pradesh. Minority communalism also received new impetus. One has to merely see Hyderabad city dotted with little little mosques. Road from Hyderabad city to Rajiv Gandhi airport. Almost every half a kilometer, there is a petty mosque, which will turn into a pill box, the moment there is some communal strife.  Hinduism, being common enemy of both the Abrahamic religions, was put down slowly and steadily during the regime of Y.S.Rajashekara Reddy.

His attempt to allow incursion of Christian evangelism in Tirumala are well known. On account of protests from Hindu leaders from all over the country, the attempt abated. It would have perhaps, resumed with the passage of time, as Hindus have little collective memory. During his chief ministership, there were allegations that Tirumala’s famous laddus were made by the contractors who were Christians, an allegation never conclusively refuted by the TTD administration and the Government.

There was strong accusation against his son Jaganmohan Reddy that once he blasted a Hindu shrine in the garb of using explosives in the mine. This accusation was also not investigated to establish either his innocence or his guilt. The reason is that all people around Rajashekara Reddy said “Why?” Yes Sir!”