‘My joining BJP was right then as we needed a stable govt’

Nowadays it has become a fashion to quit a party and join another. Being from Lal Bahadur Shastri’s family, don’t you think you ha...

Nowadays it has become a fashion to quit a party and join another. Being from Lal Bahadur Shastri’s family, don’t you think you have turned away from your responsibility of taking the Congress towards a particular stand rather than leaving it?
Gunjan Bhiwal

No I don’t think it is a fashion to quit parties and join new ones. For some it may be a matter of sheer opportunism, but as far as I am concerned, I would like to tell you that it was not an instant decision over petty issues which led to my decision to quit the Congress then and the BJP now. There were serious ideological gaps which compelled me to take this hard decision. I have never turned away from my responsibilities and as you are aware, it takes two to tango.

What do you feel about the BJP’s internal democracy?
Gaurav Dua

Story continues below this ad

The BJP was known as a party with a difference. The reason being it always believed in collective leadership and discipline at all levels…But as time progressed, the strength of the party became its weakness. The leadership turned away from ground realities and instead of maintaining internal party democracy, groupism and factionalism crept in.

In addition to the usual question of why you quit the BJP, I also wish to ask why at all you had joined the BJP?
Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Since 1996, unstable governments in the country were creating a sense of instability, which resulted in slowing down of all-round progress and lowered the image of India at international platform. The emergence of Shri Atalji as a a consensus leader prompted not only me but also other leaders of various ideologies to gather around the combination. My decision was right then because the country had not got a stable government for good six years.

PM Modi addresses the nation ahead of the rollout of new GST rates.

PM Modi says ‘GST savings festival’ begins soon: how household budgets are set for boost

Explained22 min ago

Ahead of the rollout of GST 2.0 effective from September 22, companies have announced lower prices for over 375 common-use goods. The government has urged corporates to pass on the benefits to consumers, resulting in cheaper prices for FMCG products, milk, butter, cheese, pickles, jams, and ice creams. Other items like shampoo, soap, cement, durable goods, and cars may also see a reduction.

View all shorts

Live Blog