Under attack from Congress leaders for joining BJP, Jitin Prasada on Thursday defended his move saying it was not an overnight decision and was motivated by only one factor тАФ тАЬnational interest”. He further said the inaction on part of Congress over issues raised by its own leaders was also the reason behind his departure.
Prasada, who joined BJP on Wednesday, said it was a matter of тАЬinner calling” and his move was driven by the wish to тАЬwork for the people”. Explaining what attracted him towards BJP, he told CNN-News18, тАЬI saw PM Narendra ModiтАЩs popularity and we tried to beat that and we could notтАжits one of things that attracted me to the BJP. Today PM Modi is the biggest leader and BJP is the only national partyтАжNow that I have joined BJP I am in a better position to help people.”
Unhappy with their colleagueтАЩs decision to switch sides, Congress leaders have slammed Prasada for тАЬblaming the Congress and the ideology for which he and his father worked.”
Earlier, Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at Prasada saying, тАЬJitin Prasada a was traditional Congressman and we gave him respect. He wasnтАЩt ignored. He was the general secretary in-charge of Bengal in charge and was allowed to contest every time. Despite this, if he blames the Congress and the ideology for which he and his father worked, itтАЩs sad.” Former Union minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal questioned if he was merely being used as тАШcatchтАЩ by the BJP to win the quick approaching Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said he feels very low that his colleague quit the party, but added that it was his choice. Meanwhile, M Veerappa Moily alleged that Prasada had placed тАЬpersonal ambition” over everything else and his ideological commitment was suspect from the beginning and the party winning zero seats in West Bengal under his charge showed that he was incompetent.
Responding to the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh leader said, тАЬCongressmen are free to air their viewsтАж As far as my ideology is concerned, thereтАЩs only one тАФ national interest.”
Further, hitting back at Congress, Prasad questioned, тАЬWhat ideology forced Congress to form a government with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra? What ideology made them ally with the Left in West Bengal during the recent elections?”
Defending his move, he said, тАЬThis was not an overnight decision. It was being deliberated over the last few yearsтАжin my states there was a huge disconnect between the party and people. It was a matter of inner calling. It had nothing to do with any individual.”
тАЬI am thankful for all the posts and positions that I got in CongressтАж.but this is not about that, it is about working for the people. If I donтАЩt have the support then how can I do my work,” he said.
Highlighting the problems within the party, Prasad said, тАЬWe didnтАЩt see a turn around even after we raised issuesтАжCongress did not listen. This was not just about not being heardтАжthere was no direction being given to make the turn around.” Prasad was among the signatories on the letter written to Sonia Gandhi by 23 senior leaders demanding an organisational change within the party in August 2020.
тАЬThis is not about an individual or someoneтАЩs style of functioning. It is about the CongressтАжif this was just about power I would not have waited to lose two elections,” said Prasada.
тАЬElectoral defeats is one of the reason for me to leaveтАжevery one knows who the party head isтАжbut are they using the available talents properly?” he added.
The former Congress leader refrained from commenting further on the party as he said, тАЬI am no one to comment on Congress being rudderlessтАжit is for the people on the ship to decide.”
On his new role in BJP, he said, тАЬBJP has not promised anythingтАжI am not a deal makerтАжI have been a Congressman and just because I switched sides, BJP is not going to offer me a position. Its up to the party to decide how to use me.”
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