Amritsar: The Congress has been left red-faced after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's half-brother Daljeet Singh Kohli joined the principal opposition party, BJP. But it was a decision taken by the PM's step-brother after two months of bonhomie with senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who is contesting from Amritsar, according to Kohli's son Kanwar.
Though his son said that his father's move to join BJP came as a surprise, but according to Kanwar, Kohli grew fond of Jaitley over past two months and most likely took the decision to support him and also in the interest of Amritsar.
Kanwar said that his father was never interested in joining politics because of what his borther Manmohan went through. After joining the BJP, Kohli said that Singh was never given a free hand as a PM in the Congress party.
Also Read: Saddened by brother's decision to join BJP: Manmohan Singh
Yesterday, the ruling Congress dismissed Singh's half-brother Daljeet Singh Kohli's joining BJP as a "non-event", however, the Prime Minister on Saturday said that he was saddened by Daljeet's decision to join the BJP and that he has no control over anyone's decision. The PM's family too expressed shock over the turn of events involving Kohli.
"All our family members are completely shocked with Daljeet's decision. It may be his personal choice that he has changed his ideology. We are completely with Dr Singh and we support Captain Amarinder Singh here in Amritsar," said PM's nephew Manbir Singh.
Meanwhile, the Congress hit back at the BJP, saying that the party's "dirty tricks department" is behind this development. Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters at the AICC briefing that PM's step-brother is a non-political person as far as he knows him and him joining the BJP is a non-issue.While the Prime Minister's Office and Congress expressed shock and surprise over Kohli's decision, the BJP welcome him with open arms in presence of its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, at a rally in Amritsar.
First Published: Sunday, April 27, 2014, 09:48
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