Congress MLAs demand apology; Konda Surekha distances herself from daughter’s remarks

Hyderabad: The row over the recent remarks of state Forest Minister Konda Surekha’s daugther against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other leaders deepened on Saturday with ruling Congress MLAs demanding an apology by the minister.

Observing that Surekha cannot distance herself from the comments of her daughter, party MLA Vijaya Ramana Rao said the minister should apologise to the CM and also make her daughter Sushmita tender an apology.

Meanwhile, Surekha, in a letter to the disciplinary committee of state Congress alleged that several Congress leaders and public representatives are making insulting comments against her.

She said the committee should take tough action against those who are behind the criticism against her.

She said, “It is concerning that the party leadership is silent when a collective verbal attack is taking place on her who is a senior BC woman leader”.

On Friday, several Congress MLAs and MLCs urged party leadership to take “tough action” over the remarks made by Surekha’s daugther against CM Reddy and other leaders.

“Konda Surekha, in her reply to the disciplinary committee, mentioned that she is not connected (in her daughter’s remarks). If you are not concerned, why you did not condemn the remarks. We are asking whether you have a responsibility to condemn such comments or not when you are collectively working with the CM,” Congress MLA Vemula Veeresam said on Friday.

The Telangana Congress’ disciplinary committee on August 19 issued a notice to Surekha directing her to submit a reply within three days over the comments made against CM Reddy by her daughter Sushmita.

In her reply on August 20, Surekha said it is not proper to seek her explanation on the personal comments made by her daugther.

She said holding her resposible for her daughter’s comments was against principles of natural justice.

Reiterating her respect for the Congress leadership and the party’s discipline, Surekha requested the disciplinary committee to acknowledge that she had no involvement in what her daughter spoke.

The minister had also sought withdrawal of the notice issued to her by the disciplinary committee.