DDCA row: BJP seniors, including Advani, discuss Kirti Azad’s suspension

Avoid knee jerk reaction/coercive action against (a) friend who’s fighting against corruption. “What anti-party activity have I done?” The person talking of truth is thrown out of the party and is called “anti-party”.

“I also hope that the BJP “Marg Darshak Mandal” looks into the issue”, he added. The news of Swamy playing counsel to Azad triggered the query if a BJP proxy against Congress in National Herald case could side with a saffron rebel who has accused a top central minister of corruption.

Unlike their last meeting on November 10, wherein they issued a scathing statement against the party leadership, there was no immediate public outburst. “I can’t say more”. “I am not colluding with Congress and Aam Aadmi Party”. When asked about his next move, he smiled and asked the media to “wait and watch”.

Suspended BJP leader Kirti Azad came all guns blazing against party leadership for suspending him, saying party should explain specifically what his anti-party activities were.

In a one-line statement, the BJP said Mr Azad has been suspended for “anti-party activities”.

Defying the party’s whip, he also held a press conference, dragging Jaitley into the alleged DDCA scam and also making a small speech about the same in the Lok Sabha soon after the finance minister rubbished all the accusations.

“I hope the prime minister will listen to my plea and do justice”.

Azad claimed he was just following the policy enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against corruption.

Azad went against the Party’s diktat of keeping mum on the matter which was already being raised by the AAP government to corner the Centre on issues of corruption and raids on Delhi Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar. Mr Azad points out that the party has not mentioned the charges that he has indirectly levelled at Mr Jaitley over alleged corruption in Delhi’s cricket body, the DDCA.

It charged Azad with carrying on with his “propaganda” against the decision of the party.

On Tuesday, Azad had taken on Jaitley in Parliament, seeking a CBI investigation monitored by a special investigation team into his allegations. When asked if he thinks he was suspended because Jaitley wanted him out, Azad responded in the affirmative.