LUCKNOW: BJP and Congress indulged in a war of words over reports of Congress state coordinator Vikas Agrahari switching over to BJP in the presence of Union minister Smriti Irani on Thursday morning.
District BJP President Chandramauli Singh even issued a press statement claiming that a key member of the Amethi Congress had joined the BJP and shared a photograph of Agrahari with Smriti Irani.
However, Agrahari soon held a press conference in Amethi and told reporters that the BJP’s claim was false.
“I have not joined the BJP which is being claimed by a section of media… I had gone to meet the MP in connection with some issues pertaining to my area,” Agrahari told reporters in Amethi in the presence of Deepak Singh, ex-MLC, who is leading Congress’ poll campaign on the VIP seat.
Agrahari even questioned the photograph doing the rounds and asked ‘why was there no video of his joining.’
“Had I joined the party, I would have also made a statement or given a speech… there is no evidence… my meeting for purely a local issue was misused,” he claimed adding, “I have been a Congress worker and shall always remain that.”
Asked about the orange Angavastram that he was wearing in the photograph with Irani, he said: “It was just an Angvastram not the BJP angavastra. It is a culture to welcome guests like this here.”
“We were in the Congress with all our soul, we are in the Congress even today and will remain in the Congress in future also,” he added.
District BJP President Chandramauli Singh even issued a press statement claiming that a key member of the Amethi Congress had joined the BJP and shared a photograph of Agrahari with Smriti Irani.
However, Agrahari soon held a press conference in Amethi and told reporters that the BJP’s claim was false.
“I have not joined the BJP which is being claimed by a section of media… I had gone to meet the MP in connection with some issues pertaining to my area,” Agrahari told reporters in Amethi in the presence of Deepak Singh, ex-MLC, who is leading Congress’ poll campaign on the VIP seat.
Agrahari even questioned the photograph doing the rounds and asked ‘why was there no video of his joining.’
“Had I joined the party, I would have also made a statement or given a speech… there is no evidence… my meeting for purely a local issue was misused,” he claimed adding, “I have been a Congress worker and shall always remain that.”
Asked about the orange Angavastram that he was wearing in the photograph with Irani, he said: “It was just an Angvastram not the BJP angavastra. It is a culture to welcome guests like this here.”
“We were in the Congress with all our soul, we are in the Congress even today and will remain in the Congress in future also,” he added.