Other States - Rajasthan   

BJP downplays suspension of MLA from party

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, JAN. 8. The Bharatiya Janata Party today tried to downplay the suspension of the maverick MLA from Sriganganagar, Surendra Singh Rathore, from the party two days back. The party seniors who informed that the Disciplinary Committee of the State BJP was looking into the case were also at pains to explain that suspension was not to be taken very seriously.

"Suspension is no punishment. It is only a warning against an act of indiscipline,'' Kalraj Misra, the BJP in charge for Rajasthan said. "We well listen to Mr.Rathore also before taking a final decision,'' he said.

There were reports in the local newspapers that Mr.Misra was arriving in the Rajasthan capital in the wake of growing differences among various groups in the party.

Mr.Rathore was suspended by the party on a charge of "indiscipline'' after his supporters and the followers of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Surendrapal Singh TT clashed at a meeting of district office bearers in Sriganganagar.

Mr.Rathore, who had been vocal in the past against the manner in which the Raje Government handled the recent agitation of farmers in his area, also charged that a "coterie'' was instigating the Chief Minister against him.

"I don't want to comment on the role of individuals,'' Mr.Misra said when asked about the allegation on the working of the coterie. He conceded that there had been some instances of differences between the Government and the party organization in Rajasthan. "The party functionaries and those in the Government meet once in a fortnight. We are trying for maximum coordination. Yet these things happen as it is a big party,'' he observed.

"Airing one's opinion is also part of a debate. You cannot stop it in a political party though such things should not be made a topic for a public debate,'' Mr.Misra said.

The party's State president, Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi, who reiterated that the suspension of Mr.Rathore was after finding prima facie instances of indiscipline against him, refuted the reports that the members of the Sriganganagar municipal council had resigned in protest against the suspension of the MLA. The supporters of Mr.Rathore reportedly have demanded the removal of Surendrapal Singh from the Ministry.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

BJP downplays suspension of MLA from party
Call to protect basic rights of Dalits in Rajasthan

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu