In the dock, Sakshi says it is BJP's 'internal matter'

Controversial BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj today said he was unaware of any show-cause notice against him from the party over his remarks and termed it as an "internal matter" of BJP.

"I have no information about any notice. If the party has issued any notice, my office must have received it. I have no information.

"This is an internal matter of the BJP and it has nothing to do with the media. If I have said anything wrong, my party might have given a notice to me. I will reply to it," Maharaj, who represents Unnao in Lok Sabha, told reporters here.

Sakshi Maharaj, who returned to the national capital by train this morning, faced a barrage of queries at the railway station from reporters on the notice issued against him by BJP yesterday.

He, however, evaded all questions posed to him.

Acting on the directions of BJP President Amit Shah, the party yesterday slapped a show cause notice on Sakshi Maharaj asking him to explain why action should not be initiated against him for his controversial remarks in the recent past.

He has been asked to respond within 10 days his position on why he continued to make "controversial statements which go against the party line despite having been warned," BJP sources had said here.

Sakshi was at the centre of a controversy when he asked Hindu women to have at least four children, sparking condemnation from the opposition which alleged that the ruling party was trying to polarise the atmosphere.

BJP had distanced itself from his remarks and had urged its workers and public representatives to refrain from making such comments.

"We have accepted the slogan 'Hum do, hamara ek'. Now these traitors are not satisfied. They have given another slogan 'Hum do aur hamara.... They are advocating marriage of a girl to a girl, boy to another boy. This is what the last government did.

"This is why I... want to request women to give birth to at least four children. Give one to sadhus and ascetics. Media says there are ceasefire violations happening, so send another to the border," the saffron-clad MP said at a religious convention in Meerut last week.

Sakshi had earlier stoked a row by describing Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot" and was forced to apologise in Parliament.

The BJP had issued a statement asking its public representatives and workers not to make such controversial comments in public and had said that the remarks made by Sakshi Maharaj are his personal views and the party has nothing to do with them.