5 Questions: Advaniji told me Atalji would’ve been sad, says Idris Ali

Idris Ali, Trinamool, LS, tells The Indian Express what he and Advani discussed.

Idris Ali, trinamool congress, parliament, l k advani, indian express news, india news

FROM LEFT- TMC MP Idrish Ali and Sahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque Maulana Nurur Rahman Barkati. (Express file photo by Partha Paul.)

You had a long conversation with L K Advani. What did you talk about?

I asked him about his health. He said my health is all right but the health of Parliament isn’t. Then I asked about Atalji’s health. Advaniji said Atalji’s health is not good but had he been here he would have been more sad about the present situation. He said he is so upset that he feels like submitting his resignation.

What made you walk up to him?

I have a lot of respect for him. All BJP MPs had walked out and he was sitting there all alone. So I just walked up to him to pay my respects and ask for his blessings. I told him that we want discussion with voting but BJP is not allowing it to happen. He obviously did not give a direct reply to that.

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You spoke to him a week or so earlier, too; what did you discuss then?

That was after he had openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the running of the House. I had asked him if he is upset with us. I also talked to him about the beef ban, I told him it is not nice that people’s refrigerators are being raided and they are being murdered for their food choices. He agreed that it is not good.

How often do you speak to him?

Just these two times this session. I do greet him when we meet but he is at a different level. He is so senior, I am a first-time MP.

Won’t your party have a problem with your reaching out to a BJP leader of your own?

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No, no, why should they? This in fact brings out how, even in the BJP, not everybody is happy with the way things are happening. It does not show us in a negative light.

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