Following his expulsion from the Congress party, Acharya Pramod Krishnam, in a press conference on Sunday, 11 February, said, "I will stand with Narendra Modi all my life."
"I got to know yesterday that Congress has issued a letter stating that due to anti-party activities, I have been expelled from the party for six years. I want to thank the Congress for relieving me from the party. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal should tell which activities are anti-party? Is taking Lord Ram's name anti-party? Is going to Ayodhya anti-party? Meeting PM Modi, inviting UP CM Yogi Adityanath for foundation stone laying ceremony of Shri Kalki Dham, and talking about Indian culture - are these things anti-party? These are my questions for the Congress leadership."Acharya Pramod Krishnam
He went on to add, "Lord Rama was also sent to 'Vanvaas' for 14 years since I am Ram devotee, I want that Congress party should expel me for 14 years instead of 6 years. There were many decisions taken by Congress party that I did not agree with, like opposing the abrogation of Article 370. Congress should not have opposed this. Congress should not have supported DMK leaders when they compared Sanatana Dharma with dengue, malaria."
'Congress Party Insulted Me': Krishnam
Krishnam said, "Congress party started insulting me. I have faced a lot of insults, yet I did not leave the party. The promise that I made to Rajiv Gandhi, used to come in between and hence I did not leave the party."
He added, "I questioned myself, that if the person (Rahul Gandhi) does not respect such big leaders, then it won’t be a big thing for him to insult me."
"Today at this age, I am taking this resolution that I will stand with Narendra Modi all my life. Every leader is asking me, what was the fault of Acharya Pramod Krishnam? I want to thank all those leaders who supported me being in Congress party. The person who does not respect his mother or sister, how will he respect the country? I don't know where I will go. I have faith in God, I will go wherever God will take me. I am with Narendra Modi ji and Modi ji is with the country."Acharya Pramod Krishnam
The party expelled Krishnam for 6 years, in a decision announced on Saturday. The move comes days after the leader met Prime Minister and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi for the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony.
Krishnam had criticised Congress for not attending the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha ceremony.
"In view of complaints about indiscipline and repeatedly making statement against the party, Congress president has approved the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee's proposal to expel Shri Pramod Krishnam for six years with immediate effect," a statement issued by Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said.
Pramod has been a regular critic of the Congress party, routinely hailing jibes at the party leadership.
Interaction With PM Modi
On 1 February, Krishnam had met with PM Modi, inviting him for a religious event. PM Modi had said he would be "honored" to join.
Earlier, Krishnam had slammed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, calling it “political tourism". Krishnam had said that Congress is “travelling", while other parties are gearing up for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
'No Compromise With Ram and Rashtra': Krishnam After Expulsion
Krishnam had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow on a Congress ticket but lost. In 2014, Acharya Pramod had contested the Lok Sabha elections from UP's Sambhal, which he lost as well.
Krishnam was earlier a part of the Congress' Uttar Pradesh advisory council, formed to assist Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her role as UP in-charge for the party.
Lately, Krishnam has been highly critical of many of Congress' decisions, including that of not participating in the Ram Temple ceremony.
After the expulsion, Krishnam posted a cryptic note on X, tagging Rahul Gandhi, saying there can be no compromise with Ram and the nation.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)