Punjab BJP expels dissenter Anil Joshi for 'anti-party activities'

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 10

Punjab’s Bharatiya Janata Party unit expelled rebel leader Anil Joshi for antiparty activities on Saturday, two days after he was asked to explain his recent statements against the policies of the central government.

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The action against Joshi came after he gave his reply to a show-cause notice issued by the BJP’s state unit for his “anti-party” activities.  

According to the notice, Joshi had been making statements against the Union government, party’s central leadership and policies. Joshi was expelled on the directions of state unit chief Ashwani Sharma, according to a party statement.

Joshi did not give up his stubborn attitude of going against the party whereupon state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma on the recommendations of a disciplinary committee expelled him from the primary membership of the party for six years, the statement said.  

Earlier, in a two-page reply to the show-cause notice, Joshi said he never spoke against the Centre’s farm laws and asked the state party chief if it is indiscipline to talk about farmers. 

Former Amritsar North MLA asserted that he always spoke about the party’s interests. “I neither spoke against the Centre’s farm laws nor against central leaders,” Joshi replied.

Joshi rather asked Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma whether it was indiscipline to talk about farmers. 

“Is it indiscipline to talk about ‘arhtiyas’, industrialists, small traders and labourers,” he asked.

He further said workers are leaving the party and asked the Punjab BJP chief whether giving a suggestion to save the party was indiscipline.

Joshi also pointed out that initially, farmers protesting against the farm laws in the state had a few demands that could have been handled had the BJP’s Punjab unit made some efforts.

Joshi has been blaming the party’s state leadership for not giving  correct feedback to the Centre on the farm laws. He had also stated that it had become difficult for party workers to come out of their homes. — With PTI