Giving a warm welcome to former army chief General (retired) V.K. Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said that Singh had joined the party because the Congress-led UPA Government had stopped listening to the issues of the soldiers who are protecting the country.
"V.K. Singh has joined the party because the government has stopped listening to him. He probably may not have joined the party. He may have chosen to live a retired life in the service of the nation. But the fact is that this particular government has ignored the plight of these brave soldiers, who have been working for the nation," said BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi.
"These soldiers are suffering immensely because the issues which should have been tackled differently were not tackled properly. It is a corrupt government," she added.
Describing V.K. Singh joining the BJP as a 'protest' for not being heard, Lekhi said that Singh is aware of many issues which the country is facing today and how the issue of country's security was compromised during the UPA tenure.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, "The whole country knows that V.K. Singh was always interested in politics. Today, it has been proved right. It was also evident that he would join the BJP. We were very much aware of it."
He further added that when a General or Jawan joins the BJP, then it is bound to raise some serious questions.
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Earlier today, V.K Singh had officially joined the BJP at the party headquarters, and said, "I am confident that all of us ex-servicemen who have joined BJP today, will make the party stronger."
"If the people want to do something about the country, they need to work with nationalist powers. That is the reason why I have joined a party, as it will take decisions in the national interest," he said.