Hyderabad, July 8 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah led the state in paying tributes to his predecessor Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on his birth anniversary Thursday.
The popular leader died in a helicopter crash Sep 2 last year.

“A heartfelt remembrance of the winner of people’s hearts. Our government will work every second to ensure that your immortal smile shows up on every face of the state,” said a government advertisement in newspapers.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held a meeting to remember YSR, as the late leader was popularly called. Addressing the legislators, Rosaiah said people could never forget YSR for the welfare schemes he initiated.

He denied that his government was trying to belittle YSR by holding an assembly session on his birth anniversary. Instead, he said, the government was celebrating the birth anniversary on a grand scale.

He also denied that he was trying to stall the ‘Odarpu’ yatra of YSR’s son and Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. As part of the yatra, Reddy will visit families of those who died of shock following YSR’s death.

Rosaiah unveiled a portrait of YSR in the state assembly building.