Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
Manvendra Singh (file photo)

Manvendra Singh, son of former BJP minister Jaswant Singh said who quit the BJP in September and joined the Congress two days ago has accused the BJP of “insulting” his father. He also added that the upcoming assembly election in Rajasthan will be a tough battle for BJP.

In a statement given to PTI he told, “The people of Rajasthan, especially from Barmer, Jalaur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur will take revenge for the insult caused to my father Jaswant Singh when he was denied the party ticket and expelled (from the BJP)”.

BJP veteran Jaswant Singh was denied the party ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but he contested as an independent candidate from Barmer and lost to Sona Ram, who came into the BJP from the Congress.

He also said that the decision to quit BJP was hard. He said, “It was not easy for me to quit the BJP as it was my family. But when no one heard me within the family and a friend (Rahul Gandhi) heard me, it was then that I took this step”.

Manvendra Singh was the BJP MP from Barmer in Rajasthan from 2004 to 2009. He was a Lok Sabha MP in 2004 and was elected an MLA from Sheo Assembly seat on a BJP ticket in 2013 assembly elections in Rajasthan. His resentment against  BJP began after his father was denied a ticket by the party.

Recalling former PM Vajpayee he said,”After (former Prime Minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee left, the BJP’s traditional values are no longer there. I feel the decision taken by me (to quit the party and join the Congress) has Atal ji’s blessings”.

He also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he has done nothing for Rajasthan and said that the people will throw out the Vasundhara Raje-led government in the state.

On the decision to join Congress party, he said “Joining the Congress was not just my personal decision, it was also a collective decision taken by my supporters who are fighting for their self-respect”.

On Rahul Gandhi’s leadership qualities Manvendra Singh said “In a democracy, a leader has to possess humanity. If one does not possess that, one cannot feel the pain of the poor. Rahul ji is a repository of humanity. I have seen him very closely. Very few leaders possess such deep humanity”.

The 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan will in polls on December 7 and the results will be declared on December 11.

By fatima

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