Sabir Ali was expelled from the JD(U) after he publicly praised Narendra Modi.
New Delhi:
Amid growing opposition within the BJP over the induction of expelled JD(U) leader Sabir Ali, the party's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS, has expressed unhappiness over the decision saying it has caused "great resentment."
"Sabir Ali's induction has caused great resentment. The party leadership has been apprised of the strong views of the cadre and people against it," RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav tweeted this morning.
Hours after Mr Ali's induction yesterday, BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had posted on Twitter, "Terrorist Bhatkal friend join BJP...soon accepting dawood........" The tweet linked Mr Ali to Yasin Bhatkal, the alleged chief of terror group Indian Mujahideen, who was arrested in August last year.
The Mujahideen, according to investigators, were behind October's bomb blasts in Patna at the venue of a rally for the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Six people were killed and nearly 80 injured.
"Everyone knows his background... it is public record. I'm asking for the party to correct an error," Mr Naqvi later told reporters.
His party colleague Vinay Katiyar echoed the same sentiment and said, "No need to induct someone who is associated with Dawood and who is an accused in a murder case. BJP doesn't need such people."
BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said the induction was done on the recommendation of Bihar unit of the party and "further action" in the matter will be taken after "verifying all facts and antecedents" of Mr Ali.
Mr Ali was among the 50 MPs who had written to US President Barack Obama against issuing visa to Narendra Modi in July last year. He was recently expelled from the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after he publicly praised Mr Modi, who tenants a long-running feud with the Bihar chief minister. Sources say he switched to the BJP as he was upset because he was among three other MPs who were not re-nominated by the party to the Rajya Sabha; their term expires next month.
"Sabir Ali's induction has caused great resentment. The party leadership has been apprised of the strong views of the cadre and people against it," RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav tweeted this morning.
Hours after Mr Ali's induction yesterday, BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had posted on Twitter, "Terrorist Bhatkal friend join BJP...soon accepting dawood........" The tweet linked Mr Ali to Yasin Bhatkal, the alleged chief of terror group Indian Mujahideen, who was arrested in August last year.
The Mujahideen, according to investigators, were behind October's bomb blasts in Patna at the venue of a rally for the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Six people were killed and nearly 80 injured.
"Everyone knows his background... it is public record. I'm asking for the party to correct an error," Mr Naqvi later told reporters.
His party colleague Vinay Katiyar echoed the same sentiment and said, "No need to induct someone who is associated with Dawood and who is an accused in a murder case. BJP doesn't need such people."
BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said the induction was done on the recommendation of Bihar unit of the party and "further action" in the matter will be taken after "verifying all facts and antecedents" of Mr Ali.
Mr Ali was among the 50 MPs who had written to US President Barack Obama against issuing visa to Narendra Modi in July last year. He was recently expelled from the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after he publicly praised Mr Modi, who tenants a long-running feud with the Bihar chief minister. Sources say he switched to the BJP as he was upset because he was among three other MPs who were not re-nominated by the party to the Rajya Sabha; their term expires next month.
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