Shahid Siddiqui quits RLD after party joins BJP, flags 'political compulsions' of Jayant Chaudhury

livemint.com:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Siddiqui posted in Hindi, “Yesterday I sent my resignation from the membership of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the post of national vice president to national president Jayant Singh. Today, when India's Constitution and democratic structure are under threat, remaining silent is a sin." “I am grateful to Jayant ji but I am forced to distance myself from the RLD with a heavy heart.

India's unity, integrity, development and brotherhood are dear to all. It is the responsibility and duty of every citizen to save it," the former RLD vice president said. In another post, Siddiqui said he respect RLD and Chaudhary Charan Singh, and he didn’t want to resign immediately.

But the way democracy is being attacked in the country; the way the opposition is being targeted and leaders are being arrested, he felt this isn’t in the favour of the society. Therefore, he resigned. In another post on X, Siddiqui said he resigned from the party as he cannot “silently watch undermining of all the institutions which have united and made India one of the great nations of the world." Yesterday I resigned from the position of National Vice President of RLD & its membership.

Me and my family stood up against Indira's Emergency & today can't silently watch undermining of all the institutions which have united & made India one of the great nations of the world. My regards & best wishes to @jayantrld & other colleagues in the party," he said. Siddiqui wrote a separate post for Jayant Chaudhary and hailed his "commitment to secularism and constitutional values".