{
  "id": 325400,
  "title": "‘Personal ties will remain, but I am politically with BJP’, Amarinder Singh on Rahul Gandhi’s remark",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/personal-ties-will-remain-but-i-am-politically-with-bjp-amarinder",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T21:18:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/personal-ties-will-remain-but-i-am-politically-with-bjp-amarinder-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-remark/article71317754.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh clarified on Friday (August 7, 2026) that his personal and family ties with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi would remain, despite Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks on him. Captain Amarinder stated that he and Rahul Gandhi have known each other since childhood, and that their father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was their classmate and friend. He reiterated his commitment to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite previously joining the party in 2022 after merging his Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) with it. Amarinder joined the BJP following his disappointment with the conduct of Sonia Gandhi and her children in the Congress party. He made the remark about Rahul Gandhi being his favorite BJP leader in an Instagram 'Ask Me Anything' session, sparking controversy in Punjab.",
  "summary": "Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has stated that despite his personal and family ties to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he remains politically committed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a recent Instagram 'Ask Me Anything' session, Rahul Gandhi named Amarinder Singh as his favourite BJP leader, praising his expertise in military history. Amarinder Singh, who has known Rahul Gandhi and his family since childhood, clarified that these personal connections will always remain, but his political allegiance stays with the BJP. He joined the BJP in 2022 after leaving the Indian National Congress, citing hurt over the conduct of party leaders Sonia Gandhi and her children.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "India news Highlights, 8 August 2026: Rahul Gandhi addresses ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ meeting in Prayagraj",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/india-news-highlights-8-august-2026-rahul-gandhi-addresses-chhatron",
        "published": "2026-08-08T06:07:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}