By NNN-PTI,
Hyderabad (India) : In the wake of reports that about 60 persons either committed suicide or died of shock after hearing the news of the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy, his son Jagan Mohan Reddy Friday appealed to the people not to resort to such extreme steps.
“Due to such acts (suicides) my father’s soul will not rest in peace. He had an ever-smiling face and worked for uplift of the poor. They (people) should not resort to such acts,” an emotional Jagan said in a statement.
According to media reports, eight persons suffered cardiac arrest after hearing the news of Reddy’s death in a chopper crash.
Saddened by the news, about 60 people committed suicide in various districts like Guntur, East Godavari, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Prakasam, Medak, Nalgonda, Karimnagar and Kadapa, the reports said.
Thousands of mourners Friday swarmed the city to bid a tearful adieu to Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, on his final journey to his native Kadapa district.
The body of 60-year-old YSR, the man who revived the Congress party’s fortunes in Andhra Pradesh in 2004 after a 10-year hiatus, will be laid to rest in his hometown of Pulivendula in Kadapa at 5 p.m. Friday.
The last journey began from his house in Begumpet here after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and top Congress leaders paid homage and placed wreaths on his body.
Condoling the “untimely” death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday said the country has lost “an outstanding leader”.
“In the sad and most untimely demise of Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Our country has lost an outstanding leader and the people of Andhra Pradesh have lost an ideal Chief Minister who was personally concerned to the welfare of the poor,” Singh wrote in a message in the visitor’s book at the camp office here.
“My heartfelt sympathies go to the members of the bereaved family and the people of Andhra Pradesh,” Singh said.
Sonia Gandhi said, “I am here to bid my last farewell to my colleague Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy.”