Vijayawada, April 9 (NationPress) Y. S. Sharmila Reddy, the President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, has publicly condemned her brother, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who leads the YSR Congress Party, for what she characterizes as a significant deviation from the principles championed by their late father, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR).​

She urged her brother to embark on an Athma-Vimarshana Yatra (a journey of self-reflection) instead of a symbolic padayatra.

Sharmila's remarks came during a commemoration of 23 years since YSR's groundbreaking padayatra.

Her sharp critique followed Jagan Mohan Reddy's social media post reflecting on YSR’s padayatra.

In her tribute to YSR’s legacy, his daughter stressed that his padayatra transcended mere politics; it was a transformative movement aimed at the welfare of the impoverished, marginalized, and downtrodden communities.

She recalled how he undertook this journey as a dedicated Congress leader, leading to the party's success, his eventual role as Chief Minister, and his lasting impact on the people's hearts.

Sharmila pointed out the stark contrast between YSR's legacy and her brother's current political direction. Despite heading a party that honors YSR’s name, she contended that Jagan Mohan Reddy's governance and political decisions sharply contradict the values their father upheld.

She criticized his apparent abandonment of secular principles and accused him of capitulating to “fascist and capitalist forces” for political gain.

Sharmila expressed her concerns regarding his silence on crucial national issues, including policies impacting minorities, Dalits, and civil liberties, while he supports those in power at the national level.

Reflecting on the past five years of governance, she alleged that rising incidents of violence against Dalits, women, and minorities have tarnished societal integrity, questioning if these actions are consistent with Dr. YSR’s legacy.

Earlier, Jagan Mohan Reddy, in a post on ‘X’, reminisced about the profound influence of YSR's historic padayatra.

He articulated that a leader’s foot march can significantly alter a state's history.

He recalled how YSR began his padayatra on April 9, 2003, under the harsh sun to empathize with the people's struggles, instilling hope in their hearts and assuring them of his support. This journey garnered immense public backing, ultimately leading to YSR's position as Chief Minister.

YS Jagan highlighted that from his very first day in office, where he signed a file for free power for farmers, YSR implemented numerous pivotal reforms and welfare initiatives that reshaped the state’s future, uplifting farmers, empowering women, and ensuring the security of marginalized communities.

He underscored how YSR’s initiatives enabled countless underprivileged children to become doctors, engineers, and civil servants, while also accelerating irrigation and drinking water projects, notably the Polavaram project, which serves as a vital resource for Andhra Pradesh.

YS Jagan affirmed that YSR’s impact on education, healthcare, agriculture, and industry remains profound, stating that as we commemorate 23 years since that momentous padayatra, his own journey continues to be inspired by those principles and the enduring legacy of YSR.