Big Setback to BJP in Haryana: Hisar BJP MP Brijendra Singh joins Congress 

Cites treatment with farmers, female wrestlers, Agniveer reason 

NEW DELHI, March 10: In a major setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party, its MP from Hisar in Haryana today resigned and joined the Congress. He was inducted into the party by the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in presence of senior party leaders including Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik and Deepak Babaria. 

 Talking to reporters Singh said he was thankful to the Congress president Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Mrs Sonia Gandhi for inducting him into the party. He said, for a long time he was not feeling comfortable with the BJP for ideological reasons like their handling of the farmers issues, the Agnipath scheme and their dealing with international female wrestlers. 

Replying to a question about Chaudhry Birender Singh also joining the Congress, Ajay Maken said, he (Chaudhary Birender) had informed them that he will be joining the Congress at a public rally. 

To a question about the resignation of one of the Election Commissioners, the Congress president said it was too early to comment. But he added, the way a High Court judge joined the BJP in West Bengal only a day after resigning, and started abusing the TMC very next day, showed the mentality and the mindset. He also pointed out how the BJP had placed such people at all such important places. 

On the seat sharing with various alliance partners, he said, he was thankful to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and the Congress team in the state for working out the seat sharing agreement with the DMK.