By IANS
Hyderabad : The differences within the ruling Congress party came into the open when party activists attacked the house of their own party MP Hariram Jogaiah here Sunday for his criticism of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
About 100 party workers barged into the house of Jogaiah at Madhapur neighbourhood and smashed windowpanes and broke the flowerpots.
The MP from Narsapur in coastal Andhra was not at his house at the time of the attack. But he later termed it as a “murder attempt” on him, and alleged the chief minister was behind it.
He said his wife was alone in the house and the protestors had terrorized her.
Holding party flags in their hands and shouting slogans against the MP, the party activists staged a sit-in outside his house and set his effigy afire.
The protestors demanded that Jogaiah be expelled from the party. “He should be sent to mental hospital,” shouted one activist.
The police reached the spot and arrested a few Congress workers, who were protesting against Jogaiah’s remarks against Rajasekhara Reddy.
Alleging that the chief minister was behind the “murder attempt” on him, Jogaiah told newsmen that he would complain to party president Sonia Gandhi.
“I will tell the leadership that if this chief minister, who has a criminal background, is not checked, the party will suffer a crushing defeat in the next year’s elections,” he said.
“These attacks can’t suppress my voice. I will continue to express my views without fear,” he said.
Refusing to resign as MP, he said the people had elected him and he would not betray them by resigning. He, however, said he was ready to face any action by the party leadership. “If they want to expel me, let them do it.”
Jogaiah had earlier stated that if Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi launches a new party, he would join the same. The MP had also predicted that the film star would become the chief minister and Rajasekhara Reddy would get defeated in the next elections. His remarks had embarrassed the party and the central leadership had also sought explanation from him.
Meanwhile, president of Congress party’s Greater Hyderabad unit D. Nagender denied that the chief minister was behind the attack on Jogaiah’s house. “Some party activists vent their anger over his remarks,” he said demanding the MP’s immediate expulsion.