Headlines
Former BJP minister's revelations invite showcause notice
Mumbai, June 27
The ruling Bharatiya Janata
Party on Saturday slapped a showcause notice on former minister Raj
Purohit for his purported utterances, captured in a sting operation,
showing the party and its leaders in a bad light.
The notice has
been served on Purohit asking him to explain his position on the CDs'
contents which were telecast by several television channels on Friday.
"In
these CDs telecast since June 25, it appears that you have made certain
objectionable statements on the party and its leaders. This is
tantamount to breach of party discipline," the notice said.
Purohit
has been ordered to furnish his explanation within three days, failing
which disciplinary action would be initiated against him, the notice
warned.
The communication came a day after state BJP president
Raosaheb Danve took strong exception to the Mumbai legislator's
statements.
"I have summoned him for personal discussions on the
matter. We will first inquire about the genuineness of the video CDs and
then the party would take appropriate action," Danve assured.
Purohit
has claimed, however, that the voice in the CDs is not his and he has
sought a forensic investigation to determine the CDs' genuineness.
Friday's
sting on the influential legislator, who was a minister in the Shiv
Sena-BJP government of 1995-1999, was carried out by unidentified
people.
"I have greatest respect for Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is
an ideal leader under whom the state is on the route to progress,"
Purohit said in a statement late Friday.
Purohit's no-holds
barred "mann ki baat" in the videos shows him raising questions on the
style of functioning of Modi and Shah, and Fadnavis's alleged nexus with
the builders' lobby.
He also raised doubts on the efficacy of the move to unearth black money that has distanced the business community.
"There
is no collective decision-making in the BJP... It's a fraud (dhokha)...
Modi and Shah are the two power centres in the country... Such a
democracy is meaningless," Purohit said.
Dismissing the
allegations as "gossip", Lodha Group head and BJP state vice-president
M. P. Lodha said this was the outcome of Purohit's lack of political
success.
Lodha said in a statement that his family had built up
the realty business over 35 years and not only the party (BJP), but the
people, too, have faith in their honesty.