Tributes paid to YSR on death anniversary

Rich tributes were paid to former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on his sixth death anniversary on Wednesday.

YSR's widow Vijayawamma, son and YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, daughter Sharmila and other family members paid floral tributes at his grave in Idupulapaya in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.

Family members and several leaders of the party also participated in a prayer meeting.

Congress leaders in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana paid tributes to YSR, who was the chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009.

The president of the Telangana unit of Congress, Uttam Kumar Reddy, and other leaders garlanded YSR's statue in Hyderabad.

YSR died in a helicopter crash on this day in 2009, a few months after he led the Congress to victory for a second successive term in power.

His son and wife quit the Congress and floated a new party in 2010.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress members in Andhra Pradesh assembly staged a protest over the removal of YSR's portrait from the assembly lounge.

As soon as the house met, the main opposition party members were on their feet to lodge their protest. Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad Rao had to adjourn the house for some time.

The speaker later said only former speakers' pictures are displayed in the lounges.

He said the former chief ministers pictures are displayed in committee hall but since the committee hall has been allotted to Telangana assembly due to the bifurcation, a decision on former chief ministers' portraits will be taken after a debate.