Several Congress Party and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, including four former ministers, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 4 June, Saturday at the party office in Chandigarh.
Among those from the Congress who joined BJP are leaders Raj K Verka, Gurpreet S Kangar, Balbir Sidhu, Kewal S Dhillon, Sunder Sham Arora, and Kamaljeet S Dhillon.
While from the SAD, leaders Bibi Mohinder Kaur Josh & Sarup Chand Singla, along with Mohali mayor Amarjeet S Sidhu, joined the BJP.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived at the BJP office in Chandigarh post the joining of Congress and SAD leaders.
"I have been in Congress since I was 30-32 years old. Now I am 60-years-old, worked with all my blood and sweat for the party, but the Congress doesn't identify its workers. The way Modi Ji and Amit Shah Ji work, they give credit to their workers."Balbir Singh Sidhu
Reacting to this, former Congress leader and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh called the move a "tip of the iceberg". In a tweet he congratulated the political leaders "for taking a step in the right direction".
Another former Congress leader, Sunil Jakhar who recently joined the BJP said that they were dissatisfied with the how the party was treating them. While BJP leaders said this reflects on the Congress party's lacunas.
"Congress should see why such experienced leaders and workers are leaving the party. If they can't pledge their allegiance to the country and remove the drawbacks of the party, they might even lose the status of being an Opposition."Sunil Jakhar
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