BJP President Amit Shah has, on Wednesday, suspended party member Kirti Azad for anti-party activities. The move comes after Azad went ahead with a press conference over the DDCA row targeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Azad went ahead with the press conference despite party President Amit Shah asking him not to speak against Jaitley. Television reports say the suspension is an attempt to send a message to other party members who might defy the party line.
The letter of suspension does not elaborate on what Azad has done but merely says, “he has been suspended with immediate effect for anti-party activities,” according to television reports.
The suspension comes even before a showcause notice was served to the MP.
Reacting to the news of his suspension, Kirti Azad said,
Those who are fighting corruption are being suspended from the party. What anti-party activities did I do? I never said anything against the party or Arun Jaitley.
He added, “In fact, I supported the prime minister and said that I will neither indulge in corruption nor will I let anyone do the same”.
On being asked what would be his next move, Azad said, “Now wait and watch what happens. It is the party’s loss, not mine”.
Questions are now being asked if Shatrughan Sinha, the other BJP member who regularly raises questions against the BJP top brass, might be next.
Also on The Quint: I Have No Personal Vendetta Against Anybody: Kirti Azad
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)