New Delhi [India], November 19 : After joining the BJP, former AAP leader and minister Kailash Gahlot said on Tuesday that over a prolonged period and he mustered "Courage" to quit after seeing dilution in values and principles in the party.
Speaking to ANI, Gahlot said, "It doesn't happen overnight, it happens over a prolonged period. It takes time to understand a few things. I am repeating this again and again that we are connected to some values and principles. If we see some dilution in the same, I think I mustered the courage to quit. There are several others like me who are unable to muster courage. I think they will continue."
When asked if he was miffed with Chief Minister Atishi over portfolio allocation, BJP leader Kailash Gahlot said that he has nothing against anyone.
"I am still identified as the Transport Minister. I gained enjoyment and satisfaction while handling Transport...I spent all of my time in handling Transport. I have nothing against anyone. It is the prerogative of the CM that what portfolio has to be given to who. I have nothing to say on that," he said.
He further asserted that it was not easy to make the decision to quit AAP because he was connected to the party from the beginning.
"Over a period of time, when things come out before you... I said yesterday that it was not easy to make this decision (of quitting AAP) because we connected to this party right from the beginning. We did a lot of struggles, right from 2015...So, over a period of time when you are convinced...It is not as if you went to a mall, like a jacket and purchased it... This is very serious and emotional. I was pained, that pain is not just of one day. It is a prolonged thing," Gahlot said.
Speaking on the August 15 flag hoisting row, Kailash Gahlot said, "I am not aware of that (the then CM Arvind Kejriwal's letter) because there is a protocol of writing letter from jail...I have seen that quite closely as a Home Minister. I have no idea if that process was followed. Had the process been followed, the letter would have definitely reached."
Gehlot, who resigned from AAP on Sunday citing deep concerns over the party's direction and internal challenges, joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and other BJP leaders.