Congress loses its most effective spokesperson to BJP
Gourav Vallabh resigns citing Congress’ ‘anti Hindu’ and ‘antiwealth creators’ antecedents ahead of LS polls
Former Congress leader Gourav Vallabh addresses the media after joining BJP on Thursday
letter. For good measure, as someone with a background in finance and economy, he underlined that he cannot join the Congress’s chorus in “attacking India’s wealth creators”.
“I am upset with the Congress’s stand on Lord Ram’s temple in Ayodhya. I am born a Hindu and have been a teacher. When some people in the party and its allies attack Sanatan Dharma and the party keeps quiet, it is like giving a silent assent,” Vallabh said in his resignation letter. He then proceeded to characterise the Congress’s stand on economic matters as being against creation of wealth.
“On matters of economy, the Congress’s stand has been to attack and abuse wealth creators. Congress has turned against the principles of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation for which the whole world gave it credit,” he said.
Within hours of submitting his resignation letter, the BJP rolled down the red carpet for Vallabh who joined the party at its headquarters. While the BJP welcomed the arrival of an effective spokesperson, Vallabh’s ambition would be to be elected to the Rajya Sabha which he had been aspiring for. Vallabh has also unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections from Jamshedpur and the last assembly elections in Rajasthan from Udaipur on a Congress ticket.
In the BJP, Vallabh is recognised most for demolishing its spokesperson Sambit Patra on prime time TV. In a debate on TV where Patra had been holding forth about the $5 trillion economy, Vallabh famously asked him, “So, Patra, 5 trillion has how many zeroes?” When Patra prevaricated, saying “ask Rahul Gandhi”, Vallabh pressed on: “No you answer. I challenge you.” The TV anchor then turned to Vallabh and said, “Why don’t you tell us how many zeroes in 5 trillion”. “Ten to the power 12, 12 zeroes,” pat came the reply from Vallabh.
“It would not be easy for him to adjust here,” said a BJP insider.