Barkha Singh Shukla, expelled by Congress after calling Rahul Gandhi 'mentally unfit', joins BJP, hails PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: A day after being expelled for 'anti-party activities` by Congress, Barkha Shukla Singh on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies.

The former Delhi Commission for Women chief met BJP`s national vice president and Delhi in-charge Shyam Jaju at 1 pm.

She said her decision was not aimed at gaining any position in the party.

"I have joined the BJP neither to fight elections nor am I aiming for any position, but to work hard for assignments I will be given," Singh told reporters.

She praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies and the changes he has made over the past three years.

"I wrote to Modi three years ago urging him to take up the triple talaq issue for the protection of women. The way he has responded to it has satisfied me," she said.

She was expelled from the Congress on Friday for six years for undertaking “anti-party activities”.

On Thursday, she had resigned from all party posts raising questions over the leadership of vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi unit chief Ajay Maken.

While resigning as chief of DPCC`s women wing, Barkha Singh had said: "Rahul Gandhi is unfit to lead the party." She had, however, vowed not to quit the Congress.

Yesterday also, she hit out at Rahul, saying the decision of expelling her "proved" his "mental bankruptcy" and added that she would take legal recourse against it.

"The Congress is not the Gandhi family's property," Singh said, claiming she had no plans to join the BJP or any other party at this point.

She earlier accused Gandhi of not meeting party leaders and said he was "reluctant" to address "issues" within the organisation. She also levelled allegations of "misbehaviour" against Maken.

 

Singh, who had complained against "neglect" of women workers in ticket distribution for the April 23 civic polls, alleged that the party workers were "snubbed" and their grievances were not addressed.

(With Agency inputs)