After former defence minister AK Antony expressed his diappointment over his son joining BJP, Anil Antony on Saturday said that despite his love and respect for his father there is a differrence between political and personal likings, news agency ANI reported.
Speaking with media, BJP leader Anil Antony stated: “He is my father. He is a person for whom I have the highest respect and affection but politics is different, personal likings are different… Our love for each other will not change in any manner.”
#WATCH | He is my father. He is a person for whom I have the highest respect and affection but politics is different, personal likings are different… Our love for each other will not change in any manner: BJP leader Anil Antony on his father AK Antony’s statement https://t.co/uM5jkdXDfB pic.twitter.com/OC4ia8k8F6
— ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2023
Two months after leaving his posts in the Congress due to controversies surrounding his statements on a BBC documentary about the Gujarat riots, Anil K. Antony joined the BJP. This shocked his father AK Antony, who on Thursday said that he was pained by his son’s decision.
Speaking to reporters, a tearful Antony vowed to support the Congress till the end of time and reflected on the times when the Congress reigned under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Attacking the BJP, the Congress leader claimed that efforts were being made to demolish the great old party.
“Anil’s decision to join BJP has hurt me. It is a very wrong decision. India’s base is unity and religious harmony. After 2014, Modi govt came to power, they’re systematically diluting diversity and secularism,” he stated.
He went on to say that this would be his “first and last” statement on his son Anil joining the BJP.
Upon his joining BJP, Anil went against the Congress leadership, accusing them of working for a “single family” rather than the country.
(With Inputs From Agencies)