Khattar takes potshots at Cong ex-MLA present at BJP leader's event

The presence of Lalit Nagar, a former Congress MLA, at a programme hosted by BJP leader Narender Gupta at Hathin on Monday invited potshots from Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, leaving the audience in fits of laughter.

The occasion was the inauguration of a dharamshala built by Gupta where Khattar was invited as the chief guest. During his address, Khattar, a former Haryana Chief Minister, did not waste time in taking potshots at Nagar, who was also on the stage.

Turning to Nagar, Khattar said: "Lalit Nagar ji ne bhi stage share kar liya -- pata nahin kyon kiya, maaloom nahin. Thik thak ho Lalit ji, Kisi ne bulaya hai ki appne aap aa gaye ho. Yahan aaye ho to kuch soch ke hi aaye honge (Lalit Nagar ji has also shared the stage, but nobody knows why. Are you okay, Lalit ji? Have you been invited by someone or have come on your own? If you have come, there must be some reason," he commented in a sarcastic manner, resulting in a burst of laughter.

The development set the political circles abuzz with political analysts speculating Nagar, considered close to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Robert Vadra, to make a switch to the BJP as he was denied ticket in the last Assembly elections.

However, Nagar said there was nothing as such as he had come to the programme on the invitation of Gupta, who was not only his friend but also his neighbour in Sector 17, Faridabad. He stressed he was a Congressman to the core and nothing much should be read into Khattar's political sarcasm.