Congress originator of nepotism, BJP no different: AAP

The AAP on Tuesday criticised nepotism in the political system, referring to Rahul Gandhi's nomination for Congress President without any challenger emerging, adding the BJP has not right to comment on it as the party itself practices favouritism.

"The Congress has certainly been the originator of nepotism in this country but the BJP doesn't have the right to question this process. It should first condemn its own norms that bring people forward purely on the basis of partiality," Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh told media here.

"There are party workers who work day and night but the ones who get the seats are the children of their members."

Noting that there have been huge debates in the media and among other parties on the concept of favouritism shown to relatives after Gandhi filed nomination for the Congress Presidential election on Monday without any challenger, he said there is a comparison being made with the Mughal era.

"They are saying that the country is still under the rule of kings and princes. It is undeniable that over the decades, Congress has been ruled by different members of just one family from Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Sanjay Gandhi... and now Rahul Gandhi," said Singh.

"They always wanted puppets to work under them. They used Manmohan Singh, who served the country for ten years as its Prime Minister like a puppet.

"... But BJP is itself an epitome of nepotism -- from Kalyan Singh to Vasundhara Raje to Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra -- their children got the seats despite other party workers making tremendous amount of efforts," he added.

Senior AAP leader Ashutosh added that if the Bharatiya Janata Party is anti-nepotism, it should embrace the same protocol as the AAP that doesn't allow two people from the same family to become members of the party.

"Then we will believe they are against the norm."

--IANS

mg/him/vd