Barmer (Rajasthan), March 24 (IANS) Rebel BJP leader Jaswant Singh Monday publicly took on its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi after entering the Lok Sabha polls as an independent, saying his conduct betrays arrogance.
Hurt after being denied the BJP ticket to contest from Barmer, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran also accused party president Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of betraying the BJP's ideology and turning it into another Congress.
"Ye NaMo, NaMo ka jo tamasha hai (the circus around NaMo chants), it reminds me of 1975 (Emergency rule). It reeks of arrogance," Jaswant Singh told the media here after filing his nomination papers.
"There is no effort to take everyone along. This is a dangerous route, better if they tread with caution," he added.
Jaswant Singh did not say anything else about Modi but was unsparing of Rajnath Singh, a Modi confidant, and Vasundhara Raje.
"They have betrayed me," he earlier told a gathering of his supporters, saying it was he who had recommended Rajnath Singh and Vasundhara Raje for the posts they now hold.
And sounding emotional, Jaswant Singh said he felt "extremely relieved" Monday and sought the support of the people of Barmer, his home turf, saying it was a question of their honour too.
"The BJP has become like the Congress, indulging in vote bank politics. It has abandoned its principles and ideology."
In an obvious reference to Congress leaders now joining the BJP, Jaswant Singh said the recent entrants had no connection with the BJP ideology.
The former external affairs minister dared the BJP to remove him. "I will not say goodbye till the party says goodbye."
A long-time associate of BJP stars Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, Jaswant Singh said returning to the BJP in 2010 after his expulsion earlier was a mistake.
"The way I was expelled after the BJP Shimla convention, even a 'chaprasi' (peon) isn't expelled like that," Jaswant Singh told the rally.
"Perhaps it was an emotional weakness that I joined the BJP again though all my relatives and friends had sought to dissuade me."
Jaswant Singh, elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009 from Darjeeling in West Bengal, wanted to contest from the Lok Sabha election from Barmer this time.
But the ticket was given to former Congress leader Sonaram Choudhary, who recently joined the BJP.
Talking to a television news channel, Jaswant Singh challenged Choudhary's ability to win, saying he (Choudhary) lost the recent assembly elections to a BJP candidate.
Faced with an embarrassing situation it did not bargain for ahead of the Lok Sabha battle, the BJP spoke in contrary voices.
"We cannot comment on his decision. As far as the party is concerned, he is a respected leader and we still respect him," BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in New Delhi.
But BJP's M. Venkaiah Naidu launched a mild attack on him.
"The party has given him lot of respect. He was made leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, he was a cabinet minister," said Naidu.
"If he was denied a ticket for some political reason, going against the party is not good."
The Congress used the opportunity to attack the BJP.
"It is against our culture and tradition to disrespect the elders. But when you have an individual for whom it is just I-me-myself, it is authoritarianism of the worst kind," party leader Anand Sharma said in a clear attack on Modi.
Law Minister Kapil Sibal added: "people who have served the BJP for three decades, they are not being given importance... Yes, he is feeling betrayed. Soon others will feel betrayed as well."
Punjab: Had Yogi been there, the son would not have been murdered, Moosewala's father praised, people will be forced to vote in 2024
On March 19, the death anniversary of the late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala was organized in Mansa, Punjab. While Sidhu Moosewala's father Balkaur Singh targeted the Punjab government, he praised
The Kerala Story Collection Day 1: 'The Kerala Story' made tremendous earnings on the first day, became the 5th biggest opener film
The Kerala Story Box Office Collection Day 1: The controversial film The Kerala Story hit the theaters this Friday. The uproar that started after the trailer came out increased the audience's interest
Blast near Israel Embassy: Terrorists had threatened the ambassador, had talked about an attack; Now more than 100 CCTV...
Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon posted in India was threatened with death by terrorists in November. Also, there was talk of an attack on the embassy in Delhi. After receiving input about the terrorist
Petrol Diesel Price: Today the price of petrol increased by 85 paise and that of diesel by 75 paise, know how much are the prices
Petrol and diesel prices have increased again today by the oil companies. The price of petrol has increased by 76 to 85 paise, while the price of diesel has also increased by 67 to 75 paise. In Delhi,
AQI 5 November 2022: Punjab's air more 'poisonous' than Delhi, know- the situation in other cities according to AQI
With the increase in winter, the problem of air pollution also starts to be seen. The air quality is getting worse in many cities. This is being seen in most of the cities of North India. The AQI in
Corona in Haryana: Cases increased, only 17 percent needed a hospital, patients recovering sooner than before
Of course, the third wave of the corona has knocked rapidly in Haryana, but this time only very few patients are required to be admitted to hospitals. So far in January, 83 percent of corona patients
Which sanctions did Bangladesh now request America to remove?
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momin has written a letter to the US Secretary of State, urging the US to lift sanctions against its security forces and six officials.
Shah Rukh may Feature in West Bengal's New Tourism Campaign
Kolkata, Jan 27 (IANS) With West Bengal ambitiously gearing up to promote tourism in the state with the creation of five distinct tourism circuits, Bollywood heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan may feature
World Cup: India vs Bangladesh scoreboard
Melbourne, March 19 (IANS) The following is the scoreboard of the cricket World Cup quarter-final between India and Bangladesh at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Thursday:IndiaRohit
Tamil Nadu to set up industrial park: Jayalalithaa
Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), March 21 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Friday said the government has decided to set up an industrial park here for food processing, engineering and
