BJP MP Kirti Azad, suspended for publicly taking on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the DDCA corruption case, wrote to party chief Amit Shah demanding proof of his ‘anti-party activities’ and asserted that he remained a loyal party soldier.
Azad’s move comes a day after he had sought intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and L K Advani-led old guards who have decided to take up his case in the internal party forum.
The RSS is also reportedly unhappy with the way Azad episode was handled by the BJP as the ideological mentor believes that they were not consulted before initiating a decision which they felt was done in haste and under pressure from the AAP mounting allegations against Jaitley.
In his letter to Shah, Azad reiterated his earlier position that the suspension order was silent on charges against him, which as per reports was for criticising Jaitley in the DDCA case.
“In all fairness and in keeping with the tenets of equity, I look forward to being provided an opportunity to clear my name on the serious charges of having acted against the party's interests. I request you to kindly provide me at the earliest instances and proof that I have indulged in anti-party activities so that I can clear the air and provide you with answers to your satisfaction, confirming that I have neither acted against the party's constitution nor against the interests of our party,” the third-time Darbhanga MP wrote to Shah.
Azad, who had earlier though of meeting veteran leader M M Joshi to decide the future course of action, changed his strategy to exhaust his right to seek reasons for which he was suspended. He had also sought the help of party colleague Subramanian Swamy for drafting reply to his suspension order.
“As you (Shah) have not mentioned DDCA corruption, I believe that the party has nothing to do with this matter and (it) is purely out of its preview,” the cricketer-turned politician wrote.
On allegations that he colluded with AAP and Congress and brought disrepute to the BJP, the former Test cricketer argued that he was a “loyal BJP worker” since 1993 when got elected as a Delhi MLA.
“There has not been a single instance of blemish in my association with BJP which has given me every opportunity to work within the party constitution. I reiterate that I remain a loyal BJP worker and have no intention of causing embarrassment to my party or to indulge in anti-party activities as my 23 years of unblemished record in the party will testify,” he said.
Published 25 December 2015, 20:50 IST