New Delhi: A day after earning applause from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kamlesh Paswan on Thursday urged the former not to lure anyone and focus on his party first.
“We are 24-carat BJP workers. Such things will have no effect on us,” Paswan said, ANI reported.
Asserting it is the BJP that has worked for the development of his community, the Dalit MP said: “I want to urge Rahul Gandhi ji not to try to lure anyone like this.”
The BJP MP’s remarks came as Gandhi while speaking on the motion of thanks to the President’s address earlier on Wednesday described him as a “good person in the wrong party”.
Asserting he even learns from the opposition leaders, the Congress mentioned Paswan’s name, who had just spoken before him.
“I saw my Dalit colleague speak Paswanji speaking today... He knows the history of Dalits, he knows who has been oppressing Dalits for the years,” said Gandhi, PTI reported.
“But he was reluctant today... He has spoken to me about what is in his heart. He is a good person but in the wrong party,” he added.
Paswan, however, hit back at Gandhi post his remarks stating the Congress is not capable enough to poach him and make him happy there.
Paswan said the Congress leader knows him because he is an MP, which he has become only due to his party.
“Rahul Gandhi told me I am in the wrong party... I want to tell him about his party's policy, which is to divide our community and rule,” said Paswan.
“Today Rahul Gandhiji takes my name because I am an MP. I became MP thrice because of my party,” he added.