Anurag refutes Congress' charge of being novice

Hamirpur, Apr 29 (UNI) BJP's candidate from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency Anurag Thakur today defended the party's decision to field him from the constituency asserting that he was "no novice in politics".

Refuting the claims of the opposition party that he has been given party ticket because he is Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's son, he said, "It is wrong to say that I have been given ticket because I am Chief Minister's son. I am in active politics for close to 15 years.'' Mr Thakur also launched a scathing attack on All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi, and said it was infact Rahul Gandhi who was new in politics.

''Mr Gandhi is MP because of being All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi's son. He has no other qualifications,'' he said.

Mr Thakur said he had managed his father's election ever since he entered politics about 15 years ago and had worked among the masses unlike Mr Gandhi "who was being thrust on the party from the top".

The BJP leader said he would file his nomination papers tomorrow in the presence of senior party leaders, including national vice president Shanta Kumar, party state incharge Sat Pal Jain and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

The party would also hold a rally on the occasion, he added.

UNI XC AS PS JS1826