Former Union Minister Milind Deora, who quit Congress and joined the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) on Sunday, said that, unfortunately, today's Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968 and 2004. He also stated that he was loyal to the grand old party during its most challenging decade.
"I have been receiving a lot of phone calls since morning that why did I sever 55-year-old ties of my family with Congress party...I was loyal to the party during its most challenging decade. Unfortunately, today's Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968 as well as that of 2004. Had Congress and UBT given importance to constructive & positive suggestions and merit & capability, Eknath Shinde and I wouldn't have been here. Eknath Shinde had to make a major decision, I had to make a major decision," Deora said.
Deora took a swipe at the Congress and said that now the party has only one goal which is to just speak against whatever Prime Minister Narendra Modi is saying or doing.
"The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country, on how to take the country forward, has now just one goal - speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it. I believe in the politics of GAIN - Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. I don't believe in the politics of PAIN - Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity," Deora said.
Speaking to the reporters, Deora expressed his 'emotions' and called it a very emotional day as he has ended the 55-year-long ties that his family had with Congress.
"I am emotional today, this is a very emotional day for me. I ended the 55-year-long ties that my family had with this party (Congress). My politics, my ideology has always been about constructive politics. We believe in development-oriented politics," he said.
Addressing a gathering at Varsha, the official residence of Shinde, Deora said PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have a vision for developing the country. He also hailed Shinde as the "most accessible" chief minister.
"It is not easy to decide to quit Congress with whom the Deora family has been associated for 55 years. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde requires good people. It is the opinion of Shinde and Lok Sabha member Shrikant Shinde that I can represent his vision and I am thankful to them for trusting me," Deora said, as quoted by PTI.
"I want to tell one thing, I was loyal to Congress when it was going through a difficult phase. I joined Congress in 2004. If Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) had focused on the constructive suggestions and merit, we would not be sitting here," he said pointing at Shinde, whose rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray split Shiv Sena in June 2022," he further stated.
Milind Deora Lauds PM Modi
Milind Deora praised the PM Modi-led central government and said that it is a matter of pride for all of us that, under the leadership of PM Modi, India is stronger today.
"A strong government is needed at the Centre and States in India. It is a matter of pride for all of us that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is stronger today...I would like to add that in the last 10 years not one terror attack has happened in Mumbai. This is a major achievement for Mumbaikars," Deora said.