Jayant tries to pacify RLD workers on joining hands with BJP: ‘Bharat Ratna is not a small award, people sacrifice everything for their self-respect’

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Singh Chaudhary on Tuesday attributed his decision to join hands with the BJP just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to the Centre conferring Bharat Ratna on former prime minister and his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Addressing a gathering in Muzaffarnagar, Jayant in a bid to pacify his party workers said that Bharat Ratna was “not any small award” and people “sacrifice everything for their maan samman (self-respect)”.

“There is very little time left for the Lok Sabha elections. At such a time if someone is angry, small resentments are bound to happen… and especially we have an alliance. There are BJP workers, Rashtriya Lok Dal workers and voters should give them more respect… The honour of Bharat Ratna is not any small award… Chaudhary Charan Singh is one of the deserving people who have been given Bharat Ratna. This is a big thing for our honour and respect. People sacrifice everything for respect. This is not a small thing for us,” Jayant said at Bhokarhedi, where he concluded a 60 km roadshow, covering two Lok Sabha constituencies – Muzaffarnagar, where sitting BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan is seeking re-election for the third time; and Bijnor where RLD has fielded its MLA Chandan Chauhan.

“After thinking for the benefit of the region, we decided to join the BJP-led NDA,” he added.

The RLD, which fought the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2022 UP Assembly elections in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, joined the NDA in early March, stumping the SP.

“Earlier, we installed statues of Chaudhary Ajit Singhji (former Union minister and Jayant’s father) in Lucknow. An idol is created so that the person remains alive in the eyes of the people. This award (Bharat Ratna) will also do the same