If (Kamal Nath) is pained about Congress insulting Ram, he is welcome (to join us): BJP’s MP chief

“If someone has belief in the BJP leadership and believes in its policies, for such people the doors are open,” Sharma said. “We have opened our doors to those in the Congress who think that their party boycotted the Ram Mandir consecration event. Ram is in Bharat’s mind and Ram resides in its heart. He was insulted by the Congress. If these leaders have pain in their heart, then they should be given an opportunity. And the name you are taking (Nath), if in his heart he has such pain, then I think he is welcome.”

Congress party leaders have said talk of Nath joining the BJP are nothing more than rumours spread by the ruling party to poach leaders before the Lok Sabha elections.

Several leaders close to Nath, including Jabalpur Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh ‘Annu’, have left the Congress and joined the BJP. Nath was asked earlier this month about the rumours, to which he said, “There are so many rumours going on, what can I say about them?”

He and his son, the current MP of Chhindwara, Nakul, are currently on a tour of the constituency. Nakul has announced himself as the Lok Sabha candidate in Chhindwara, despite the Congress high command not formally making the announcement. Nath has been participating in “abhaar sabhas” in several villages of Chhindwara, where he meets locals, apart from being involved in and block level meetings with Congress leaders and karyakartas.

Earlier this month, BJP leader Sumita Mahajan had said, “If he (Nath) wants to come and do good work for the nation, he should join by taking Ram’s name and work. Those who want to join for work, they are all welcome.”

Senior BJP leader and state Urban Development and Housing Minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya, had on the other hand said all doors were closed for Nath. “We will not accept him; our doors are closed. Why would we take him? When you go to the market, will you take fresh or rotten fruit?” he had said.