Kirti pins hope on PM meet
Kirti pins hope on PM meet
The BJP high command, which has taken a serious view of suspended party MP Kirti Azad’s alleged anti-party activities, has decided to expel him “if he does not apologise”, sources said.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Azad said he was “hopeful” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would meet him. “I have not been able to put forward my point of view,” Mr Azad told this newspaper. Asked whether there was any pressure on the party to suspend him, Mr Azad said; “It’s a pertinent question, but I’m not the right person to answer that.”
Mr Azad also intends to take up his issue with the BJP’s Margdarshak Mandal which, besides the Prime Minister, comprises Mr L.K. Advani, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh.
It was learnt that the party high command has taken a serious view of Mr Azad’s coming out in the open against finance minister Arun Jaitley despite being cautioned by BJP chief Amit Shah. Sources said Mr Shah had made it clear to Mr Azad that he “should refrain from joining hands with the AAP in targeting the finance minister” over the alleged DDCA scam. A BJP functionary made it clear that if Mr Azad “did not apologise he would be expelled”.
When contacted, Mr Azad made it clear that he was upset with the party for the way action was taken against him. “I am not unhappy at being suspended but unhappy at not being given the reason for which I was suspended,” he said. The former cricketer, who was in the team that won India its first World Cup in 1983, claimed his “press conference had nothing to do with the BJP or was against any particular individual”. He maintained that his “fight is against corruption” and that he “will continue to raise his voice against corruption”.
While it was felt that Mr Azad was targeting the finance minister over the alleged scam in the DDCA, the Delhi cricket body, he told this newspaper that he never named Mr Jaitley. For him, it’s not Kirti Azad versus Arun Jaitley. “I never took his name.
Whosoever is suggesting this perhaps is unaware of the reality,” he said. And then came the sting: “I don’t know what to say. But someone is perhaps is guilty somewhere.”
Despite speculations that the party high command intends to expel him if he does not apologise, Mr Azad said; “I have been associated with the BJP for 22 years and it is the only political party with a democratic structure. I am certain that I will get a response from the PMO.” Refusing to speak further on the issue, Mr Azad said, “I intend to reserve my comments at this juncture. I would rather place the facts before the leadership.”
Mr Azad also hinted that he could take up the issue with the BJP’s Margdarshak Mandal. “Because of their struggle and sacrifice, the BJP is where it is now. They remain the source of our inspiration. I will definitely put my case before them.”
