Union Commerce and Railways Minister and senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal has hit out at the Congress over the dissension in the party's state government in Punjab.
ANI published an interview with Goyal on Sunday morning in which he alleged the Congress had compromised on the issue of national security.
"As BJP (leader), I am extremely, deeply concerned about what's happening in the Congress party in Punjab because national security for us comes first. You are aware that our basic training and our basic understanding of the public service is nation first, party next, self last. That is what we are all trained to think and work. That is exactly how the Prime Minister Modi's government and the BJP thinks and works," Goyal told ANI.
Highlighting the concerns that Amarinder Singh had raised since quitting as chief minister, Goyal noted, "Any instability and the kind of concerns that Captain Amarinder Singh has expressed, the threats to national security on the borders of Punjab are a matter of very deep concern for all of us, and any of the actions of the Congress party leading to this are truly a worry for the entire country. I can only say that it is very, very deeply unfortunate that the Congress has gone to the level of compromising on national security for petty, personal or political gains of a few people."
Goyal also expressed support to the views of the group of 'dissident' leaders known as the G-23, which had called for reform in the Congress. Goyal told ANI, "I have not yet heard any comment from any senior leader, probably except the G-23, who also has expressed a similar concern about the happenings in Punjab. But the current leadership of Congress seems to be completely disconnected with the concerns of the nation and I do hope that they will reflect and care for our nation's security first."
Goyal also targeted Rahul Gandhi for his frequent tweets criticising the Narendra Modi government. Goyal told ANI, "Their party doesn't take it (Rahul’s tweets) seriously; it has become a matter of ridicule within the party about what's happening".
