Jagan gets rousing welcome as he comes out of jail

IANS/HyderabadYSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, charged with corruption, was yesterday released from prison after 16 months.He walked out to a warm welcome by his supporters.The MP from Kadapa emerged from Chanchalguda Central Jail at 4pm amid tumultuous scenes outside. With folded hands, he greeted hundreds of supporters who had gathered at the main gate to welcome him.The supporters showered flower petals on Jagan, as the young leader is popularly known. He was seen requesting them to make way for his convoy. The convoy later left for his house at Lotus Pond in Jubliee Hills. Jagan sat in a bullet proof vehicle, escorted by several security personnel, who form part of his ‘Z’ category security.YSR Congress leaders and activists followed him in cars and on bikes. Holding party flags and Jagan’s portraits, they raised slogans of ‘Jai Jagan’.A special court on Monday granted conditional bail to Jagan in a case of owning assets disproportionate to known sources of income. The court has asked him not to leave Hyderabad without its permission and not to influence witnesses.His release comes at a time when Andhra Pradesh is passing through a political turmoil in the wake of Congress Party’s decision to carve out a separate Telangana state.With no stakes in Telangana, the MP from Kadapa will try to cash in on the ‘samaikhya Andhra’ or united Andhra sentiment in Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions) by joining people opposing the state’s division.Jagan is expected to take court’s permission to visit Seemandhra in a few days. In fact, he sought bail on the ground that he wants to be with the people when they are protesting.