Jagan slams Sonia, seeks mandate to keep Andhra united

Also accused Gandhi of murdering democracy in broad daylight

Seeking to discount reports that he had struck a clandestine deal with Congress to enable division of Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy today launched a scathing attack on Sonia Gandhi and accused her of "playing with the future of Telugu children" to pave way for her son Rahul Gandhi to become prime minister.

He also accused the Congress president of "murdering democracy in a broad daylight".

Do you know the history of Andhra Pradesh? You are playing with the future of our children only to make your son the Prime Minister. Is it justified?," Jagan questioned the Congress president while addressing his first public rally here today, upon release from jail on bail last month.

Jagan even went to the extent of questioning if Sonia was a "human being" for turning a blind eye to the 80-day-long agitation of all sections in Seemaandhra for a united state.

He called upon Telugu people to give 30 Lok Sabha seats for his party in the next general elections to prevent division of Andhra Pradesh.

"Let us win 30 Lok Sabha seats. We will then see who will and who can divide Andhra Pradesh. If we win 30 seats, we can make one who will keep AP united the Prime Minister," he said.

While making an appeal for the decisive mandate for his party, Jagan tried to struck an emotional chord, saying "This is a fight between Delhi's arrogance and Telugus' self-respect".

The 'Samaikya Andhra Sankharavam' rally at LB Stadium in the heart of the city was attended by a large crowd brought in special trains and buses from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

As the stadium was filled to capacity, a large crowd remained on roads outside.

In his 50-minute speech, Jagan posed many questions to Sonia Gandhi, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu over their "bid to weaken a strong state" by splitting it.