Anil Antony: ‘Congress has tied its present and future to one family, but India has moved on’

‘Modiji has a imaginative and prescient for the nation, not simply to battle the elections but about attaining sure objectives for the nation.’
‘Congress doesn’t also have a imaginative and prescient for 25 days.’

IMAGE: United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, celebration leaders Rahul Gandhi and others at an election assembly for the Karnataka meeting elections in Hubballi, May 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The exodus from the Congress to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will not be information lately.

It now not surprises anybody when individuals are abandoning a sinking ship.

But in Kerala, it shocked everybody when Congress veteran A Ok Antony’s son Anil Antony left the Congress to be a part of the BJP.

A Ok Antony is not only any Congressman, he was a trusted lieutenant of the Gandhi household and served as defence minister in Dr Manmohan Singh’s authorities.

Soon after Anil Antony joined the BJP, his father advised the media that he was pained and harm by his son’s behaviour. His youthful brother urged him to come again to the Congress.

But Anil caught to his weapons. Perhaps the BJP sees him because the ‘minority’ face to draw younger Christians to its aspect.

After Narendra D Modi’s go to to Kerala final month the place Antony Jr shared the dais with the prime minister together with different younger achievers from Kerala, Rediff.com‘s Shobha Warrier spoke to Anil Antony about how he got here to be within the BJP.

The concluding section of a two-part interview:

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is projected as successful as a result of he was ready to join with individuals…

I do not know on what foundation the Congress celebration thinks it was successful. Yes, he walked from one finish of the nation to the opposite.

But if you happen to take a look at the election outcomes after the yatra, the Congress was worn out within the three North Eastern states and Gujarat.

There was a by-election in Telangana the place Mr Gandhi handed via.

It was a sitting seat of the Congress, but the Congress candidate misplaced even the deposit.

If you take a look at the election outcomes, the general public has not accepted the yatra or Mr Gandhi in any method.

Did you ever share your considerations together with your father?

I shared my concepts with my father who was within the Congress celebration for 65 years.

He was a parliamentarian for nearly 52 years. At 81, he has retired from energetic politics and public life. His political section is over.

I maintain saying that the nation has modified, and at this time India is an aspirational nation that wishes to transfer ahead.

Sadly, the issue with the Congress celebration is that it thinks the household’s downside is the celebration’s downside and the Congress celebration’s downside is the nation’s downside. But that is not what it’s.

Every political celebration exists for a cause, but the Congress celebration offers no significance to the nation. Thats why individuals are not linked with the celebration in any method.

IMAGE: Anil Antony being welcomed by Bharatiya Janata Party National President Jagat Prakash Nadda alongwith Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, New Delhi, April 6, 2023. Photograph: Kind courtesy Anil Antony/Twitter

You have interacted with Rahul Gandhi and now Narendra Modi. What distinction do you see in them?

It’s in regards to the idea of India itself. On one aspect, Modiji has a imaginative and prescient for the nation, not simply to battle the elections but about attaining sure objectives for the nation.

He talks a few nation-building course of for the one centesimal 12 months of independence, 25 years from now.

While Modiji is a 24/7 politician with a imaginative and prescient and path, Rahul Gandhi although man would not have a imaginative and prescient or path.

I really feel the celebration doesn’t also have a imaginative and prescient for 25 days.

The Congress celebration would not encourage the general public or the youth as there is no such thing as a path within the celebration.

When I used to be in Kerala, many individuals advised me that you just have been poached by the BJP…

There is nothing known as poaching. When I left the Congress celebration in January 2023, I used to be not considering of becoming a member of one other celebration.

Afterwards, there was communication between the BJP and I…

Did they strategy you, or did you strategy them?

I do not like to discuss that because it’s an inner matter. We had discussions and I joined the BJP.

IMAGE: A lady exhibits her affection for Rahul Gandhi through the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Thiruvananthapuram. Photograph: ANI Photo

The basic discuss is that as part of the minority outreach programne in Kerala, the BJP wished you since you belong to the Christian neighborhood.
Many individuals additionally say that like what has occurred to Alphons Kannanthanam and Tom Vadakan, you additionally can be forgotten by the celebration after a while…

I might say, that is the discuss of a bunch of Kerala politicians who stay like frogs in a effectively with none nationwide perspective.

Mr Vadakan is sitting within the nationwide government board of the celebration. Mr Kannanthanam was one of the highest performing junior ministers within the authorities.

But that was within the final ministry…

They have carried out their duties and they’re nonetheless performing.

I’ve sure expertise, experiences and experience that are globally recognised. And the celebration sees worth in it.

I’m positive I can be ready to contribute in direction of the prime minister’s nation-building course of utilizing my experience.

Don’t you suppose your surname Antony…

It’s undemocratic to say that simply because your dad and mom have sure political ideas, you have got to observe them.

This is a free nation the place each particular person has absolute liberty to pursue no matter he feels proper.

IMAGE: Anil Antony campaigns for BJP candidate Yashpal Suvarna within the Udupi constituency, Karnataka, May 5, 2023. Photograph: Anil Antony/Twitter

It was reported that your father was pained and harm by your choice…

I’ve mentioned at the moment itself that we’re 4 members in our household, and we’ve got the deepest love, respect and affection for one another.

But we’re impartial people who’ve the correct to pursue our personal path.

Political life is completely different and household life is completely different. We are nonetheless household and a intently knit one.

But I completely consider that the nation has zero future with the Congress celebration led by Rahul Gandhi, or the Congress celebration within the present format.

At the identical time, I’ve full religion within the BJP led by Modiji.

Would you have got remained with the Congress if it had a special chief on the prime?

It’s a hypothetical situation. The Congress has tied its present and future to one household, but India has moved on.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com