Addressing a gathering in Muzaffarnagar, Jayant in a bid to pacify his party workers said that Bharat Ratna was “not any small award” and people “sacrifice everything for their maan samman (self-respect)”.
“There is very little time left for the Lok Sabha elections.
There are BJP workers, Rashtriya Lok Dal workers and voters should give them more respect… The honour of Bharat Ratna is not any small award… Chaudhary Charan Singh is one of the deserving people who have been given Bharat Ratna.
AdvertisementJayant Chaudhary Jayant Chaudhary“After thinking for the benefit of the region, we decided to join the BJP-led NDA,” he added.
This award (Bharat Ratna) will also do the same thing,” he said.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Singh Chaudhary on Tuesday attributed his decision to join hands with the BJP just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to the Centre conferring Bharat Ratna on former prime minister and his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Addressing a gathering in Muzaffarnagar, Jayant in a bid to pacify his party workers said that Bharat Ratna was “not any small award” and people “sacrifice everything for their maan samman (self-respect)”.
“There is very little time left for the Lok Sabha elections. At such a time if someone is angry, small resentments are bound to happen… and especially we have an alliance. There are BJP workers, Rashtriya Lok Dal workers and voters should give them more respect… The honour of Bharat Ratna is not any small award… Chaudhary Charan Singh is one of the deserving people who have been given Bharat Ratna. This is a big thing for our honour and respect. People sacrifice everything for respect. This is not a small thing for us,” Jayant said at Bhokarhedi, where he concluded a 60 km roadshow, covering two Lok Sabha constituencies – Muzaffarnagar, where sitting BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan is seeking re-election for the third time; and Bijnor where RLD has fielded its MLA Chandan Chauhan.
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Jayant Chaudhary Jayant Chaudhary
“After thinking for the benefit of the region, we decided to join the BJP-led NDA,” he added.
The RLD, which fought the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2022 UP Assembly elections in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, joined the NDA in early March, stumping the SP.
“Earlier, we installed statues of Chaudhary Ajit Singhji (former Union minister and Jayant’s father) in Lucknow. An idol is created so that the person remains alive in the eyes of the people. This award (Bharat Ratna) will also do the same thing,” he said.
The RLD chief also said that he has asked the BJP government at the Centre to make more effective schemes for the youth.
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Jayant Chaudhary in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday. (Express photo: Dheeraj Mishra) Jayant Chaudhary in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday. (Express photo: Dheeraj Mishra)
“The average population of the country is 29 years, but when we look at the party officials, only senior people get the posts… Our party is of farmers. Farmers have no caste or religion. The priority of the government should be that the benefit of government schemes should be given to those who are doing farming but do not own the land,” said Jayant, adding, “These are not my views, but Chaudhary Charan Singh’s.”
“I hope that you will support me in this decision… This is politics. Parties form alliances to advance their issues. This election is no less than a social movement. To bring social revolution, maintain democracy to take the country forward,” said Jayant, while making an emotional appeal to vote remembering Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Jayant Chaudhary in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday. (Express photo: Dheeraj Mishra) Jayant Chaudhary in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday. (Express photo: Dheeraj Mishra)
Pitching for Hindu-Muslim unity, he concluded his speech, saying: “Rest, best wishes to you on Navratri and Eid. These are the festivals that everyone celebrates together. Long live our brotherhood, may there be unity among us.”
A week ago, while sharing the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Muzaffarnagar rally, Jayant had called his decision to break away from the SP a “strategic move” and took a dig at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for his “chavanni” (penny) jibe.
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Using a wrestling phrase, Jayant said: “Mein palta nahi hoon. Ishe patakhni marna kehta hai (I didn’t flip. It’s called pinning the opponent to the ground). He (Akhilesh) knows a little bit about wrestling. I also know a little bit.”
The RLD, which has its support base among Jat voters in west UP, is contesting two Lok Sabha seats – Baghpat and Bijnor — in alliance with the BJP.
