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BJP issues show-cause notice to Jethmalani
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 26
A day after suspending him, the BJP today issued a show- cause notice to Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani, asking him to explain why he should not be expelled from the party for six years for anti-party activities.

The BJP Parliamentary Board met here this evening under the chairmanship of party president Nitin Gadkari and decided to issue the show cause notice to the veteran lawyer. Jethmalani had recently demanded the resignation of Gadkari following allegations of corruption against the Purti Enterprises run by Gadkari and also criticised the party leadership for questioning the government’s decision to appoint the new CBI chief.

Briefing reporters, senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar said, “The parliamentary board discussed the anti-party actions of Mr Ram Jethmalani. The parliamentary party found appropriate the decision of party president Nitin Gadkari to suspend Jethmalani for his indiscipline and anti-party activities.” Asked if the parliamentary board had also discussed the issue concerning senior leaders Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha, who too had had expressed views on Gadkari’s continuance in office, and the appointment of the CBI Director being not in line with the party’s stated position, Kumar said the meeting was convened only to discuss Jethmalani’s issue.

Meanwhile, Jethmalani told the media that 10 days was too little time for him to reply to the show cause notice issued to him.

By demanding Gadkari’s resignation, Jethmalani had brought the internal feud of the party to the fore and embarrassed the party. The noted lawyer told reporters this morning that he has written another letter to Gadkari, whose resignation he had demanded earlier. However, Jethmalani declined to reveal the contents of his letter.

By taking tough disciplinary action against Jethmalani, the party also want to rein in leaders who have been in the forefront of the campaign for the ouster of Gadkari.

There is an overwhelming opinion in the party that its campaign against the Congress on the corruption issue has weakened considerably after the allegation of graft surfaced against the company run by Gadkari. However, Gadkari has said that he was clean and prepared for any probe.

‘Too little time’

• Jethmalani told the media that 10 days was too little time for him to reply to the show-cause notice issued to him
• He said he has written another letter to Gadkari, whose resignation he had demanded earlier, but declined to reveal its contents
• By demanding Gadkari’s resignation, Jethmalani had brought the internal feud of the party to the fore and embarrassed the party