The Hindu : Front Page : Expel Khurana: disciplinary panel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 07, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Expel Khurana: disciplinary panel

Special Correspondent

He delayed a reply and we were left with no other option, says Ram Naik

— Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Senior BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana addresses mediapersons at his residence in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party's central disciplinary committee on Tuesday recommended the ``expulsion'' of senior leader Madan Lal Khurana from the party for six years.

The unanimous decision was forwarded to party president L.K. Advani, committee chairman Ram Naik told newspersons here. It was the president's prerogative to take further action.

The former Delhi Chief Minister and State BJP president was placed under suspension for six years on August 20 after he publicly expressed his inability to work under Mr. Advani and sought Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's resignation for post-Godhra riots.

A charge sheet and a show-cause notice were served on August 22 and Mr. Khurana was given 10 days to reply.

``We received an acknowledgement letter from him on August 29 in which he sought more time to reply but he did not specify how much time he needed." Following this the matter was referred to the committee, Mr. Naik said. Mr. Khurana was aware that the committee was meeting and could have sent a reply even on Tuesday, but there was no word from him.

``Mr. Khurana delayed a reply and we were left with no option but to take action which was taken with lot of pain,'' Mr. Naik said.

Why the decision

``The decision to recommend [his] expulsion was taken keeping in mind Mr. Khurana's activities, including public statements to newspapers and television channels in the past two months, which went against his senior colleagues and damaged the party's image.''

Asked why no action was taken against other leaders such as Shahnawaz Hussein who too had been critical of the leadership, Mr. Naik said the matter did not come before the committee. ``Moreover, Mr. Khurana is a senior leader who has held important positions in the party,'' he said. The committee included O.P. Kohli, Brij Lal Renua, H. Seshagiri Rao and Nand Kishore Yadav.

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

Front Page