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| Differences widening in BJP, several leaders eyeing cabinet berths | | | Minam Saqib
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: The ruling parties are not only divided over the Kathua incident, but differences have come to open among BJP leaders with many eyeing to be part of the cabinet.
There has been blame game between various political parties over the Kathua incident. Amid nationwide outrage against the gruesome incident, two BJP ministers, Chowdhary Lal Singh and Chandra Prakash Gupta tendered their resignations before the state BJP president, who subsequently forwarded to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and was accepted by her on Sunday.
Singh and Ganga have said that BJP state president Sat Sharma directed them to attend Hindu Ekta Manch rally.
"We received calls from Sat Sharma to go Kathua," they have said.
A BJP leader said that this has not gone well within the party. "The duo said they went on behalf of Sharma. After there was anger, Sharma remained silent and it was he who had sought their resignations," the BJP leader said.
The BJP leader said that the duo told the party leadership that Sharma should have stood behind them. "They are not happy with Sharma as they believe that he too is eyeing on cabinet berth. BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav also said that indiscretion on part of two ministers clearly indicating that it was because of them that created controversy," he said.
Sources said several BJP leaders wanted their resignations as many are eyeing to be part of the cabinet.
BJP National Vice President Avinesh Rai Khanna on Sunday distanced the party from the statement of Singh that separatists dictated the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti not to go for Central Bureau of Investigation in the Kathua case. "It is not party's stand and may be personal opinion of Singh," Khanna said in a press conference in Srinagar.
He was reacting to Singh's statement, who on Saturday said, "Why there was no action when the eight-year-old girl went missing. Chief Minister should have resigned as she is heading the Home Department. If a train accident happens, the railway minister resigns. Similarly, the Home Minister should have resigned when the incident took place. Separatists told her not to go for CBI probe."
Singh in a harsh tone also said that Ravinder Raina may be inducted into the cabinet.
Sources said that BJP does not want to annoy the PDP leadership due to statements of Singh and Ganga. "Khanna's statements clearly indicate that they don't endorse what Singh said about the Chief Minister," sources said.
"BJP state president Sat Sharma and Speaker Kavinder Gupta want to be included into the cabinet," sources said. With the resignations of Singh and Ganga, several BJP leaders are making efforts to be part of the cabinet.
"The front runners are Sat Sharma, Kavinder Gupta, Ravinder Sharma, Shakti Raj, and Rajiv Jasrotia," sources within the BJP said.
Sources said BJP high command will take the final call. They said Amit Shah would discuss with the senior party leaders and the RSS leaders before taking any decision. |
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