You will not be a leader if you don't go to jail: BJP MP Dilip Ghosh

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh courted fresh controversy on Thursday by telling party workers that they cannot become good political leaders unless they are occasionally going to jail. Ghosh also told BJP workers that they cannot be a good political activist by sitting at home.

“ If your politics is cold then it will not be effective. You should do things for which you can be put in jail. If the police are not lodging cases against you then you do such things that they will be compelled to put you behind bars. You can not be a political leader unless you occasionally go to jail,” Ghosh said. He was addressing party workers at a ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ program in Barrackpore in North 24 Paraganas district.

Ghosh also said that the fact that BJP workers are being assaulted and going to jail is a “mark of success” for BJP and the reason why people are supporting the party.

“ We are getting assaulted, cases are being slapped on us and we are going to jail. This is the mark of our success. It is the reason why people are supporting BJP,” said Ghosh.

He also said that those who are still not coming out in support of BJP in Bengal can wait and express support for the party after it comes to power in the state in the 2021 Assembly elections.

The state BJP chief has a reputation of making controversial comments and recently sparked outrage saying that BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and Assam have shot protesters against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) like dogs. He was criticised for the remark by Union Minister Babul Supriyo.

Reacting to his comments TMC Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said that “His remarks show the mindset of his party. Being the state president of a party which is at power at the Centre he should be more cautious about what he says,” said Chattopadhyay.