Swamy raises Kirti Azad’s argument against suspension from BJP

The Darbhanga MP was suspended on Wednesday for indulging in anti-party activities by accusing Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of being involved in the DDCA case.

“Thus, I wish that Narendra Modiji intervenes in this issue, goes deeper in it, and then tells me about what I have done wrong, as I need specific answers”, Azad told reporters here.

“I want the PM to tell me what my fault is”.

Supporters of suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad today staged a protest outside 11, Ashoka Road, party’s headquarters, demanding withdrawal of his suspension from the party.

“There has not been a single instance of blemish in my association with BJP which has given me every opportunity to work within the party constitution”. Jaitely, sources said, had threatened to resign from all party posts and the government if Azad was left unpunished. And disregarding a reported request from BJP president Amit Shah, Azad held a press conference to expose the alleged wrongdoings in the DDCA on Sunday.

“You have made several statements in the media which constitute anti-party activities and such unfounded allegations were clearly meant to bring the party and its office-bearers into disrepute”. He maintained that his “fight is against corruption” and that he “will continue to raise his voice against corruption”.

Confirming the development, DDCA Joint Secretary Dinesh Sharma said the Joint Secretary would sit on December 26 to take a decision over Azad’s membership to the DDCA.

While it was felt that Mr Azad was targeting the finance minister over the alleged scam in the DDCA, the Delhi cricket body, he told this newspaper that he never named Mr Jaitley.

They also suspect that Congress President Sonia Gandhi might have prompted Azad to rake up the issue. Azad, on his return from Gujarat tonight, said he would call up the PMO seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is now in Moscow and is scheduled to return tomorrow.

Sources said the leaders agreed that the entire episode, from Azad’s allegations about financial irregularities in Delhi’s cricket body and his subsequent suspension, had given an opportunity to its political opponents to criticise the party. He had been raising these issues for a long time.

He said he’d also assist Azad in drafting the reply to the suspension letter, adding Azad was still a party member.