Last Update: April 06, 2023, 21:22 IST
Anil Antony, son of Congress veteran and former Defense Minister AK Antony, joined the BJP on April 6 in the presence of Union Minister and senior party leader Piyush Goyal in Delhi. (Image: PTI)
Meanwhile, AK Antony, a close aide of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, termed his son’s act as ‘wrong’ and ‘extremely painful’.
The Congress on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Anil Antony, who joined the BJP, accusing him of “betraying” his father, former Defense Minister AK Antony, on ‘Maundy Thursday’. Anil, who headed the digital media cell of the Kerala Congress before quitting the party, was welcomed into the saffron party by Union ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan, as the Bharatiya Janata Party looks to expand its footprint in Kerala.
Kerala Congress President K Sudhakaran said in Thiruvananthapuram, “Today (Maundy Thursday) is the day of Judas (Iscariot) who betrayed Jesus Christ for the payment of 30 silver coins. Many such things will happen on that day. This (Anil joining BJP) should also be seen as one such incident.”
Earlier in the day, Anil criticized a section of the party’s oldest leadership for “serving the interests of a single family” instead of working for the country. Soon after joining the BJP, Anil said during a press conference, “I believe in dharma. But, I believe it is my duty to serve the country.
Asked whether he had a discussion with his father before joining the BJP, Anil said he “strongly believed” that he had taken the right step. “There are four people in my house. My father, my mother, my brother and me. We are all very different people. He is my father, so we have a very good relationship. I love and respect the most,” he said, “but it’s not about personality, it’s about difference of opinion and views. I’m sure I did the right thing. But, my father My respect for him will remain the same. There is no question of politics in my family.”
Meanwhile, AK Antony, a close confidante of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, termed his son’s act as ‘wrong’ and ‘extremely painful’ for her.
In Thiruvananthapuram, an emotional Antony said, “I am deeply saddened by Anil’s decision to join the BJP.” It was a wrong decision.”
Antony further said that his loyalty will always lie with the Nehru family, which is still at the forefront of the “fearless fight to defend India’s fundamental ideals”.
Anil had resigned from the Congress in January after criticizing the party’s stand on BBC’s controversial documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
(With inputs from PTI)
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