M A I N   N E W S

Gadkari’s woes pile up as Jethmalani Jr quits BJP executive
Anita Katyal/TNS

That’s the IQ? BJP president landed in a fresh trouble over his remarks on the IQ levels of Swami Vivekananda and fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim. Gadkari was quoted as saying, “As per psychology, if we compare the IQ level of Swami Vivekananda and that of Dawood Ibrahim, then it could have been the same. But Vivekananda used it in nation building while Dawood used it in excelling in the crime world.”

New Delhi, November 5
In an attempt to mount pressure on the RSS to deny a second term to BJP president Nitin Gadkari, noted lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani today resigned from the party’s national executive to protest against his continuation as the party chief.

Gadkari was picked by the RSS to head the party and it was at its insistence that the party constitution was amended to facilitate a second presidential term for him.

In a two-line resignation letter, Jethmalani said it would be “morally and intellectually” wrong for him to continue in the party body as long as Gadkari is in office.

Already mired in controversy over financial irregularities in his Purti group of industries, the BJP president landed in fresh trouble today over his remarks drawing a comparison between the IQ levels of Swami Vivekananda and fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim.

Having acquired a reputation for being afflicted with the proverbial foot-in-mouth disease, Gadkari was quoted as saying, “As per psychology, if we compare the IQ level of Swami Vivekananda and that of Dawood Ibrahim, then it could have been the same.

But Vivekananda used it in nation building while Dawood used it in excelling in the crime world.”

Although the BJP president later clarified his comments, these provided fresh ammunition to Jethmalani, who told media persons, “I resigned on two core issues - controversy around Gadkari and his unsatisfactory explanation about his statement on Swami Vivekananda.”

Coming out in Gadkari’s support, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy described Jethmalani’s resignation as posturing, saying the party president had already said he was willing to face any enquiry about his business dealings.

BJP insiders said Jethmalani may be a political lightweight but his action is a reflection of the raging factional battle within the BJP which could gather momentum in the coming days. Jethmalani is the son of noted lawyer and BJP Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani, who spoke out against Gadkari recently and pitched for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the party’s next Prime Ministerial candidate.

There is a large section within the BJP which wants that Modi should shift to the Centre after the Gujarat Assembly polls in which the incumbent chief minister is predicted to get a landslide victory. Modi is a favourite with party cadres who view him as the only mass leader capable of energising the cadres and attracting crowds.

There is also growing apprehension among senior BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley and Yashwant Sinha that Gadkari’s continuation as BJP president would undermine the party’s anti-corruption plank. Veteran BJP leader LK Advani, whose antipathy to Gadkari is well known, would like to see him out as it would weaken the RSS authority over the BJP.

Although the RSS has backed Gadkari so far, it could be forced to dump him if the campaign against him picks up as the Sangh cannot be seen to be compromising on the issue of corruption.