Former Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar joined the BJP on Thursday in the presence of party chief J.P.Nadda days after he quit the grand old party.
Welcoming him in the BJP, Nadda said Jakhar had enjoyed a special stature in Pu jab that was independent of the Congress party and helped strengthen nationalist forces in Punjab.
“BJP is emerging as the number one nationalist force in Punjab. Hence it is necessary for all leaders having nationalist ideology join the BJP to strengthen the party and for a stronger Punjab,” Nadda said.
Jakhar, a three term MLA and a former Lok Sabha member from. Gurdaspur, became emotional as he recalled the five decade association of his family with the Congress.
“It is not easy to break a relationship with the Congress that spanned three generation’s from 1972 till now.”We had been with the Congress in good and bad times,” Jakhar said.
Jakhar had quit the Congress last week after lashing out at former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Twitter, saying that he was ” not an asset” as portrayed by the party leadership.
A former Lok Sabha member, Jakhar was removed from all posts by the Congress disciplinary committee following allegations of anticipatory activities by certain Punjab unit leaders against him.
He also lashed out at veteran Congress leader Ambika Soni for her statement on the the”repurcussions of having a Hindu Chief Minister in Punjab.” Jakhar also held Soni’s statement as one of the reasons for the Congress drowning in the Punjab Assembly polls earlier this year.
Jakhar also said “Three generations of my family served the zcongresz party, over the last 50 year old tie with the party over issues of nationalism, unity and brotherhood in Punjab”, Jakhar said after joining BJP at the party headquarters.
The former Punjab Congress chief said he had to quit the grand old party as he was questioned for raising issues against divisive politics. “When a party, deviates from its Values and principles, it is ideal to quit it”, it is ideal to quit it”, said Jakhar.
“I welcome Sunil Jakhar to Bhartiya Janata Party. He is an experienced political leader who made a name for himself during his pitiful career. I’m confident he will play big role in strengthening the party in Punjab,” Nadda said after welcoming Jakhar to the party.
Punjab is a border state and nationalist leaders like Jakhar are welcome to BJP the party chief said “There are issues in Punjab which are detrimental to security in the border state and to defeat such forces leaders with strong belief in nationalism are welcome ” Nadda added.
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