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Rajasthan BJP dismisses Gujar MLA

JAIPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party has dismissed its vocal Gujjar MLA, Prahlad Gunjal, from primary membership of the party. Mr. Gunjal, MLA from Ramgangmandi in Kota division, had been suspended on June 10 on charges of violating party discipline and making statements “inciting caste discord” during the Gujjar agitation for Scheduled Caste status along with another Gujjar MLA, Attar Singh Bhadana.

The news of Mr. Gunjal’s dismissal came even as the BJP’s disciplinary action committee led by Madanlal Saini was yet to take up the case. State BJP president Mahesh Sharma decided on the dismissal of Mr. Gunjal after reportedly consulting party president Rajnath Singh.

“I did not give any opinion on the dismissal. The State president is competent to do that himself. The disciplinary committee is scheduled to take up the case of Mr. Gunjal along with that of Mr. Bhadana on Thursday,” Mr. Saini said.

BJP spokesperson Kailashnath Bhatt said the regular outbursts of Mr. Gunjal against the State Government and the Chief Minister affected the image of the party. After the termination of the party membership of Mr. Gunjal he would be an unattached member in the Assembly, Mr. Bhatt informed.

“I am fighting for a just cause for my community. Now I am free,” said an unfazed Mr. Gunjal. The Chief Minister was nervous about the scheduled meeting of Gujjars in Jhalawar on August 26, he noted.

Mr. Gunjal seemingly became the target as he had continued his tirade against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her son, Jhalawar MP Dushyant Singh, after initial warnings. In a largely attended meeting of Gujjars in Ranpur village of Kota district, Mr. Gunjal had threatened to stop the entry of Ms. Raje and her son into Jhalawar.

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