Assam’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Bandip Dutta and BJP leader from Darrang district Pinku Moni Das joined the Congress on Wednesday.
Senior Congress leaders including Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora, Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, Boko MLA Nandita Das and APCC general secretary and media cell chairperson Bobeeta Sharma welcomed them to the party.
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“They were accompanied by around 100 of their youth members from Kamrup (Metro & Rural) districts and Darrang district respectively at a grand joining ceremony at Rajiv Bhawan today,” the APCC said in a press statement.
Ripun Bora and Gaurav Gogoi presented Dutta, Das and the other new members of the party with a scarf each bearing the emblem and symbol of the Indian National Congress during the joining ceremony.
Bora extolled the inclusive ideals of the party, while saying, “It is a good sign for the Congress party that so many youths have come forward to join our party.”
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Gogoi also expressed his happiness at the joining of the scores of youths and welcomed them to the party fold.
The grounds of Rajiv Bhawan resonated with slogans like ‘Congress Zindabad’, ‘Tarun Gogoi Zindabad’, ‘Pandit Nehru Zindabad’, ‘Mahatma Gandhi Zindabad’ and other rousing shouts by the new members, who displayed their enthusiasm in joining the Congress.
During his speech, Bandip Dutta said, “I ask the people of Assam whether they want a party which does not distinguish between different religions and believe in the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi or a party which reveres the assassin of Bapuji.”
“Today I have joined the Congress party with a score of AAP members. We will be joined by many more later,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Pinku Moni Das said, “Today, I feel proud to be welcomed under the banner of a party which does not believe in difference of caste and religion but stands by the people as a whole.”
“We want to stay united with the Congress, embrace the party ideals and fight together against the divisive forces,” he added.