Remarks made due to uncontrolled emotions: Venkataswamy''s son

Hyderabad, Feb 2 (PTI) In an apparent damage controlexercise, Congress MP G Vivek tonight said his father andsenior party leader G Venkataswamy could have made thecontroversial comments against Congress President Sonia Gandhiin a fit of emotion.

"I spoke to my father. He said he had no intention tospeak like that. He made some comments due to uncontrolledemotions that Telangana state might not come with the partyjoining hands with Chiranjeevi (who supports united AndhraPradesh)," he told reporters here.

A press release signed by Venkataswamy was also issuedat Vivek''s media interaction.

In the release, Venkataswamy said he is a Congressmanto the core and a loyalist of the Gandhi family.

"I have served under Gandhis for more than fourdecades. I was indeed upset over the visit of A K Antony toChiranjeevi, a known supporter of united Andhra Pradesh at atime when Telangana was afire and innocent students immolatedand suffered for the cause of a separate state," he said.

"The PCC president should have at least said this tothe Defence Minister and given us the chance to speak our mindto party emissary. In fact, I was trying to meet Soniaji inthis regard, but could not do so as I could not get theappointment," the 82-year-old former Union minister said.

"It is quit possible that I might have spoken withuncontrolled emotions solely for the purpose of achievingTelangana. I already explained that the unwanted andobjectionable comments, if any, were not intentional,"Venkataswamy added.

Meanwhile, Vivek reiterated his stance that he doesnot agree with the views of his father and that he has faithin the leadership of Gandhi.

"I don''t agree with what he said. I have faith in theleadership of Sonia Gandhiji," he told PTI.

Maintaining that he stuck to his controversialcomments against Gandhi, Venkataswamy told reporters earlierthat he would withdraw his remarks if separate Telanganademand is accepted. "I stand by whatever I said yesterday. Iam ready to withdraw my comments if Telangana is given."

He expressed fear that Telangana statehood issue maytake a back seat if a united Andhra Pradesh supporter likeChiranjeevi joins hands with the ruling Congress.

He said AICC General Secretary Veerappa Moily, in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, telephoned him andfelt he should withdraw his comments. "I refused to withdrawmy comments."

Demanding that Gandhi step down as Congress chief andmake way for an Indian who has risen from grassroots, theDalit leader from Telangana had yesterday alleged thatcorruption and inflation have risen under her leadership andthe 125-year-old party is fast losing its base all over thecountry.