‘Gatecrasher’ Jethmalani pulls up BJP
8 May 2013 7:52 AM IST
Veteran lawyer and suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ram Jethmalani has blamed the saffron party of ‘not doing enough’ to fight corruption. True to his style, Jethmalani levelled these charges with some alacrity, gatecrashing into the weekly meeting of the BJP parliamentary party, which he is not permitted to attend after suspension.
All BJP MPs, including Parliamentary party chief L K Advani, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley, heard Jethmalani in silence as he spoke for ten minutes before walking out.
Accusing the BJP leadership of being soft on the government on the issue of corruption, Jethmalani suggested that the Opposition’s attack needs to be sharpened. He said the BJP was not slamming the government as vociferously as it should have on the issue of corruption. He alleged that BJP is in a state of flux and not active enough in targeting the ruling party.
Jethmalani also asked the party leadership why no action has been taken to remove him from the party though over three months have passed since he was served a notice. He said he should either be thrown out of the party or the notice be taken back. Jethmalani was suspended on 25 November last year after he attacked the party over certain issues.
Soon after Jethmalani left, party MPs Ananth Kumar, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shahnawaz Hussain among others spoke against the veteran lawyer’s behaviour and said such acts should not be tolerated. Several MPs suggested that he should be thrown out of the party. Soon after the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, senior leaders who are members of the party’s Parliamentary Board, its top decision-making body, met at Advani’s office in Parliament House and discussed the issue.
BJP top brass, however, is of the opinion that expelling Jethmalani from the party will increase his damage causing potential and nuisance value as he will be free to speak his mind in the Rajya Sabha.
This would harm the party even more. As a suspended member, Jethmalani is bound by BJP whip and can speak or cast his vote in the House only as per the directions of the party. Sources, however, said that Jethmalani could be issued a show cause notice for his conduct on Tuesday.
All BJP MPs, including Parliamentary party chief L K Advani, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley, heard Jethmalani in silence as he spoke for ten minutes before walking out.
Accusing the BJP leadership of being soft on the government on the issue of corruption, Jethmalani suggested that the Opposition’s attack needs to be sharpened. He said the BJP was not slamming the government as vociferously as it should have on the issue of corruption. He alleged that BJP is in a state of flux and not active enough in targeting the ruling party.
Jethmalani also asked the party leadership why no action has been taken to remove him from the party though over three months have passed since he was served a notice. He said he should either be thrown out of the party or the notice be taken back. Jethmalani was suspended on 25 November last year after he attacked the party over certain issues.
Soon after Jethmalani left, party MPs Ananth Kumar, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shahnawaz Hussain among others spoke against the veteran lawyer’s behaviour and said such acts should not be tolerated. Several MPs suggested that he should be thrown out of the party. Soon after the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, senior leaders who are members of the party’s Parliamentary Board, its top decision-making body, met at Advani’s office in Parliament House and discussed the issue.
BJP top brass, however, is of the opinion that expelling Jethmalani from the party will increase his damage causing potential and nuisance value as he will be free to speak his mind in the Rajya Sabha.
This would harm the party even more. As a suspended member, Jethmalani is bound by BJP whip and can speak or cast his vote in the House only as per the directions of the party. Sources, however, said that Jethmalani could be issued a show cause notice for his conduct on Tuesday.
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