AP Congress leader takes back criticism of Sonia

Senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh, G Venkataswamy, who created a flutter by demanding Congress President Sonia Gandhi's resignation as party president, on Wednesday said he is ready to withdraw all his comments.

"I had to make those comments because I was worried that party may suffer in Telangana region. I am ready to withdraw all comments. I request her for a separate Telangana," the octogenarian leader said, appearing to backtrack on the issue.

"If I am expelled, party workers in Telangana would form a new outfit called the Telangana Congress," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Venkataswamy's son and Congress member of Parliament G Vivek said he did not agree with the comments of his father and he has faith in Gandhi's leadership.

Slamming Venkataswamy for his attack on Gandhi, Youth Congress activists met Andhra Pradesh Congress president D Srinivas at his residence in Hyderabad late on Tuesday night and demanded disciplinary action against him.

Demanding Gandhi to quit from the Congress president post and make way for an Indian who has risen from grassroot, the Dalit leader from Telangana had on Tuesday alleged corruption and inflation have risen under her leadership and the party is fast losing its base all over the country. Taking exception to the Congress high command's move of inviting Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi to work together, Venkataswamy said the decision has lowered the stature of Congress as the actor-turned-politician supports a united Andhra Pradesh.

Congress leaders in the state, led by Srinivas, have condemned Venkataswamy's comments against the party president. "These comments are most unfortunate. I condemn all the utterances made by Venkataswamy. It seems he was not in sense," Srinivas said.

State minister and prominent Dalit leader in Congress D Rajanarasimha said Venkataswamy's comments are aimed at positioning himself or his son for the post of chief minister if separate Telangana is realised. Several state ministers and other party leaders also condemned Venkataswamy's remarks against Gandhi.

All India Congress Committee Secretary and Congress member of Legilative Council P Sudhakar Reddy demanded that Venkataswamy be expelled from the party immediately. Reddy said that he has sent letters to A K Anthony, chairman of Congress disciplinary committee, and other leaders urging them to expel Venkataswamy from the party.