YS Sharmila joined Congress in Rahul Gandhi's presence

As a Christian, it pained me that such cruelty took place in Manipur: YS Sharmila

YSRTP did not contest in Telengana State election

YS Sharmila, daughter of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekar Reddy and sister of current Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy joined the Indian National Congress by merging her former YSRTP (Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Telangana Party) with it. “Today, I am very happy to be merging YSR Telangana Party into the Congress party. It gives me immense joy that the YSR Telangana Party is going to be a part of the Indian National Congress from today onwards,” she said in an event attended by senior Congress leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. 

She invoked memories of her father during the event. “Today it would be giving him great joy that her daughter is following in his footsteps and going to be part of the Congress. It was my father’s dream to see Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister of our country and I am very glad that I am going to be a part in making that happen,” she stated. 

She also made a reference to the violence that unfolded in Manipur and to the supposed values of secularism Congress upholds. “As a Christian, it pained me that such cruelty took place in Manipur. Around 2,000 churches were burnt and 60,000 were rendered homeless. That kind of cruelty I could not digest. Congress is still the largest secular party of the country and it has always upheld the true culture of India. Congress built our nation, unwaveringly served all communities and united all sections of the society,” she mentioned.  

She also stated to have provided INC tactical support by not fielding candidates in the recently concluded Telengana State elections.