I parted ways with the Congress, a party that I served for so many years, because its leadership constantly humiliated me by ignoring my talent both as a leader and an administrator.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The Congress leadership always denied responsibilities to me both within the government and within the party organisation... They would always tell me my image as a Hindu leader was a constraint on my capacity as a political leader.
But I made one mistake which I would never repeat as a member of Congress when I was in Washington, and that was when I was elected I didn't go on trips because I was so afraid of having someone accuse me of taking junkets.
It wasn't until after I was reelected in 1982 that I thought of myself as a long-term member of Congress.
I was a very, very good congressman.
I've had a tough time learning how to act like a congressman. Today I accidentally spent some of my own money.
I didn't leave the Congress; I was expelled.
I ran for Congress, just once.
I ran for Congress not because I was having a mid-life crisis. I left the private sector because I saw a looming financial crisis that was coming to this country. It's unsustainable.
I joined the Communist Party because I felt I had to be in some organization.
I put myself and all the members of Congress in the same boat of things that could have been done better.