Senior Congress leader AK Antony, who is upset with his son Anil K Antony joining the BJP, said his decision was painful and also a wrong decision, but he will remain as a Congress worker.

Anil K Antony, who headed the Digital Media cell of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, joined the BJP in the presence of Union ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan on Thursday. After the news about it broke out, AK Antony spoke to the reporters in Thiruvananthapuram and said, “Anil’s decision to join the BJP is painful. It is a wrong decision.”

Hurling his anger against the BJP, AK Antony added, “BJP has been trying to sabotage the country’s unity in diversity. Since independence, the Nehru family has been working for the country’s unity. I am now 82 and in the final phases of my life. I will remain as a Congress worker till my last breath and continue to raise my voice against the BJP and RSS.”

Anil Antony quit the Congress party after the row over BBC’s documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots in January. After joining the BJP today, he slammed the Congress and said, “Every Congress worker believes they are working for a family. But I believe I am working for the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a very clear vision of putting India in a leading place in a multi-polar world.”

After welcoming him in the party, Piyush Goyal said, “Anil Antony is a multi-faceted personality. I was very impressed when I saw the credentials of Anil Antony ji. His views reflect similar with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on sustainable development. We have confidence he will continue to play a very active role and help grow the BJP’s footprint in southern India.”