I have been punished for seeking internal democracy in BJP: MLC Bhanuprakash

Bharatiya Janata Party MLC M B Bhanuprakash, who was removed as state vice president of the party on Saturday, has said that he is prepared to sacrifice everything including his membership of the Legislative Council if that would help the party state president B S Yeddyurappa to win the 150 seats in the next Assembly polls.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Bhanuprakash made it clear that he would not question the decision of the state president.

“I was not hurt over my removal as state vice president. But the way it has been done to a worker who has struggled to build the party over the last 30 years has hurt me the most. The party president released the copy of suspension letter to the media before informing me. It is interesting that I was sacked from the post for discussing the rift in the party with the media. But the president shared the suspension issue, the most internal affair of the party, with media before informing me. If what I did is wrong, then is what they did is right?” he questioned.

He said it pains him that he was jailed for questioning the then prime minister Indira Gandhi’s attack on democracy during the Emergency. Now, he has been punished for demanding internal democracy in the party.

Referring to the suspension letter, he said “it only states that I have been removed
from all responsibilities with immediate effect. There is no details of responsibilities.

I assume I have been removed from three responsibilities: the post of state vice-president, in-charge of Chikkamagaluru district and from the membership of Deendayal Upadhyaya Birth Centenary Committee. For the benefit of the workers, I am sharing this information.”

Expressing his disappointment over the similar treatment meted out to BJP leaders M P Renukacharya and Go Madhusudhan, he said they have been removed from their position for criticising BJP national general secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh.

Nirmal Kumar Surana and me have been removed for striving to safeguard internal democracy in the party, he added.