Lucknow: Taking a dig at the Samajwadi Party after former IPS officer Asim Arun’s inclusion into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said the people joining Akhilesh Yadav-led party “do riots” but those joining his party “catch rioters”.
Continuing his diatribe, Thakur said the Samajwadi Party MLAs are “either in jail or on bail”, adding that’s their original game.
Asserting it is clear that people with clean characteristics join the BJP, the Union Minister alleged the rioters with “blood-covered hands” join the Samajwadi Party.
Welcoming the 1994-batch IPS officer into the BJP, Thakur said: “A person who is experienced, honest and is ideal for the youngsters is joining the BJP today.”
“The BJP will move forward with his experience and more youths like him will join BJP,” he added.
The former Kanpur Police Commissioner on his part said that he was “satisfied” after joining the BJP.
“I have got a chance to serve the public. This decision was not easy for me as on one side, there was a job. On the other hand, there was an opportunity for public service,” Arun said, ANI reported.
The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier this week approved Arun’s voluntary retirement request.
The BJP, which released its first list of 107 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections earlier on Saturday, has denied tickets to 20 sitting MLAs.
Eyeing a second term in power, the BJP has fielded 21 new candidates this time.
Voting for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The counting of votes will be held on March 10.