Congress pulls out ‘Hindu’ card in AP, Now Accuses Reddy a Christian!!

To win back Reddy community votes, Congress to make Jagan’s religion a poll issue 

Even as AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s claim that he was a Brahmin has kicked up a controversy, the Congress leaders in Andhra Pradesh are planning to make an issue out of YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy’s Christianity to woo back the Reddy community into the Congress.

The Reddy community has been the backbone of the Congress party in the state, particularly in Rayalaseema region where the community is dominating the politics.

However, after the death of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and his son Jagan floated a new political outfit, the Reddy community has shifted its loyalty to the latter.

“Almost all the prominent Reddys who were supporting the Congress during the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy regime have gone into the Jagan camp. There is an urgent need to woo them back into the Congress party, if it wants to retain power in the next elections,” G Veera Siva Reddy, Congress MLA from Kamalapuram in Kadapa district told MAIL TODAY.

The Congress leaders from Rayalaseema region have come out with a strategy: to exploit Jaganmohan Reddy’s religion to win back the confidence of the Reddys.

Former minister and Anantapur strongman J C Diwakar Reddy is arguing that Jagan does not belong to the Reddy community at all, as he is a devout Christian. “He cannot call himself a Reddy as his family does not follow any of the customs of the community. The entire family strictly follows the Catholic traditions,” Reddy said.

Jagan’s family was baptized into Christianity during the time of his grandfather Y S Raja Reddy five decades ago. “Since then, the family members have given up the Hindu traditions and have been practicing Christian customs. All the family members religiously go to Church every Sunday and celebrate all Christian festivals, but not the Hindu festivals,” the MLA said.

Jagan’s brother-in-law Anil Kumar, originally a Brahmin but got converted into Christianity after marrying YSR’s daughter Sharmila, has transformed into a full-time Evangelist. He has set up an evangelical mission and has been spreading Christianity across the country. “This being his family background, how can Jagan claim himself as a Reddy?” the Congress leader asked.

Read full report at : http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/congress-to-make-jagan-reddy-religion-a-poll-issue/1/184606.html

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