M A I N   N E W S

PM’s admission on CVC creates rift in BJP
Faraz Ahmad/TNS

New Delhi, March 9
BJP president Nitin Gadkari today turned the grand heroine of the CVC controversy, Sushma Swaraj, into a virtual villain by rejecting her thesis of letting matters rest after the Prime Minister admitted that the appointment of PJ Thomas was an error of judgment.

“I am the party president and I say that we are not satisfied with the Prime Minister’s statement,” Gadkari said, when asked about Sushma’s Tweet: “I appreciate the statement of the Prime Minister owning responsibility. I think that is enough. Let matters rest at this and we move forward.”

In effect, Gadkari endorsed the strident line adopted by Sushma’s counterpart in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, though he maintained, “We don’t believe there is any contradiction in their statements.”

Gadkari was speaking to the media after a meeting of all state presidents, general secretaries and organising secretaries of all states addressed by Advani, Sushma and Jaitely. He announced his party’s plans to take this issue to the people through demonstrations and agitations. Political observers noted that by endorsing the Jaitley line, Gadkari has fanned the simmering battle between the two BJP stalwarts. To add to Sushma’s woes, Advani also commended Jaitley for his strident stand against the PM on CVC issue.