Arvinder Singh Lovely explains why PM Modi's leadership is better than that of Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Newly-inducted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arvinder Singh Lovely on Friday came down heavily on the Congress leadership, especially Rahul Gandhi for the grand old party's poor performance across the country.

Speaking exclusive to Zee Media, Lovely said the present Congress is not the same party, which it used to be, for which he devoted his 30 years.

Heaping praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, the ex-Congress leader said it took just one hour for him to have a meet with Shah, whereas, he wasn't able to meet the Congress high command even after trying for two years.

He also claimed that during closed door meetings, various Congress leaders applaud PM Modi.

When asked as to what factors made him join the BJP – the party which he has been criticising for 30 long years - Lovely replied saying, the present BJP under the leadership of PM Modi truly believes in 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' and is moving in the direction to take India to new heights.

Lovely also took pot shots at his one-time mentor and former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, saying he chose to be a "traitor" by joining the BJP, which fights for the cause of soldiers, instead of being a burden on the Congress like Dikshit.

Dikshit, a Congress veteran, had termed Lovely's decision to join the BJP as 'betrayal'.

The former Delhi Congress president and ex-minister said Sheila Dikshit is completely dissociated from the Congress campaign for MCD polls and has turned out to be a burden, while he chose to join the BJP that has been holding country's ' interests high.

The BJP is giving a new direction to the country and many in the Congress who also believe this and are considering joining the BJP, Lovely claimed.

He said that several senior Congress leaders are "disgusted" with the selection of candidates for the Delhi civic polls and alleged that tickets were "sold" to the aspirants.

Hitting out at Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, Lovely accused him of ignoring party members' concerns.

When asked whether he would be comfortable in speaking against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi during campaigning, the new BJP leader said, “The present Congress is not the same what it used to be, adding that Congress leaders these days hesitate in visiting unauthorised colonies and jhuggis.”

In a big political development, former Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the BJP on Tuesday.