National Unionist Zamindara Party (NUZP) MLA Sonadevi Bawri on Friday joined the Congress in the presence of state party president Sachin Pilot.
Bawri is an MLA from Raisinghnagar in Ganganagar district. NUZP has two MLAs in Rajasthan – Sonadevi and Kamini Jindal.
“I have joined the Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Pilot. It is a fact that Congress has always supported and worked for the elevation of Dalits and the poor. The present government tortured Dalit during the bandh on April 2,” said Bawri, a first time MLA, elected in 2013 assembly elections.
Hitting at the state government led by BJP, she said, “Jindal and I always stood by the BJP... But today we are realising that after our votes they sidelined us and used our party…‘Use and throw.’”
Addressing newspersons at state party office, Pilot said, “Without any pretentions, she become a member of this organisation and will work towards empowering Dalits… I think this will strengthen the Congress not just in this district but the entire state. I wholeheartedly welcome her to our party.”
He continued that this indicates that the current atmosphere is anti-farmer, poor, Dalit and women, not just in Rajasthan, where BJP is in power, but across India. The fact that she (Sonadevi) has restored her faith in Rahul and Sonia Gandhi’s leadership is setting the tone how people in the future will disregard ruling dispensation in Rajasthan and join the Congress.
{{/usCountry}}He continued that this indicates that the current atmosphere is anti-farmer, poor, Dalit and women, not just in Rajasthan, where BJP is in power, but across India. The fact that she (Sonadevi) has restored her faith in Rahul and Sonia Gandhi’s leadership is setting the tone how people in the future will disregard ruling dispensation in Rajasthan and join the Congress.
{{/usCountry}}Pilot said Congress is in opposition in Rajasthan and many states, despite the strong tactics of the BJP, smaller parties, independents all are coming with the Congress.
“We started our election campaign and will strengthen our booths. The ‘Mera Booth, Mera Gaurav’ (MBMG) programme will now be held in all 200 assembly constituencies of Rajasthan, where discussions will be held with workers and they will be imparted training. The divisional-level meeting of MBMG has been done at Kota, Udaipur and Ajmer,” he said.
Speaking about the Karnataka elections, he said that the Congress and the Janta Dal (Secular) had a clear mandate. “The Congress got 2% more votes than BJP. BJP did not get a clear majority but despite that, the Governor has kept aside all legalities and Constitutional provisions and made BS Yeddyurappa the chief minister. But the Supreme Court, rightly reduced the timeline to prove majority from 15 days to less than 48 hours.”
“I welcome the Supreme Court’s move, but the intentions and motives of the BJP to misuse the office of the governor… the Congress will continue to agitate at all district party offices and I am sure the pressure we are building will make sure that the BJP does not succeed in destroying all norms of democratic institutions in our country,” he said.