Anil Antony, son of Congress veteran and former defence minister AK Antony, had joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, in New Delhi on April 6, 2023. (PTI)
In the video, released on the YouTube channel of a meditation retreat, an emotional Elizabeth is purportedly seen admitting that she knew about the invitation Anil Antony received from the BJP much earlier
Congress veteran and former Union minister AK Antony’s son Anil Antony joining the BJP had sent ripples across the political spectrum in April this year. Antony’s wife Elizabeth has now revealed how that came to be, seemingly justifying the move in a video that has gone viral.
In the video, released on the YouTube channel of a meditation retreat, an emotional Elizabeth is purportedly seen admitting that she knew about the invitation Anil Antony received from the saffron party much earlier.
The footage purportedly shows Elizabeth claiming that it was her prayers that got her son the opportunity, adding that prayers also helped resolve the issues that cropped up in the family due to his unexpected entry into the BJP.
She said that while Anil wanted to join politics, the resolution passed by the Congress in its Chintan Shivir against dynasty politics proved to be a roadblock.
“I took the second Covenant prayers to clear his entry into politics. It was a huge dream for my elder son to join politics. Though he got a good job after his studies in Stanford University, he came back because he was interested in politics. In Congress’s Chintan Shivir, they passed a resolution against dynasty politics. How much ever my son wanted to enter politics, this became a hindrance. My husband is someone who will not help Anil achieve his dream in politics.”
She said she prayed intensely for the good future of her son and then she received a call from Anil.
“My son turned 39…He called me and said he got a call from the Prime Minister’s Office, and they asked him to join the BJP,” Antony’s wife said in the video.
“He said he would get good opportunity in the BJP. We believed and lived in the Congress party and couldn’t even imagine going to the BJP. I came here and gave a chit to the priest and prayed. The priest told me ‘don’t pray for him to return as it shows that he will have a good future’. Immediately, Mother Mary changed my mind. The anger and hatred towards BJP in my mind changed. But I was worried what will I tell my family. I didn’t tell them anything. It was after four days through a news channel that my family got to know about him joining the BJP.”
Elizabeth said in the video that her husband was shocked. “My husband was really shocked, but he overcame the situation calmly. I was scared whether there would be any confrontation when Anil came home. But everyone’s mind calmed down and the talks were civil at home. My husband said he has no issues in Anil coming home, but cannot talk politics. Anil came home twice. No one has alienated him. Anil is very happy now,” she said.
She added that her husband faced several health issues post Covid-19 and decided to retire and return to Kerala. She said his health improved because of her prayers and the senior Congress leader accepted the post when his name appeared on the Congress Working Committee list.
The Congress leadership, AK Antony or Anil Antony were yet to react to the viral clip.
