Don’t deviate from party line, Uttarakhand BJP warns workers

Dehradun, October 14

The Uttarakhand BJP on Monday warned its workers of disciplinary action if they go against the party’s policies. Two days ago, a party MLA had delivered a hate speech against Muslims.

The warning was sounded by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, BJP in-charge for Uttarakhand Shyam Jaju and state party president Ajay Bhatt during a meeting at the party headquarters held after 90 BJP workers and office-bearers were expelled from the party for indulging in anti-party activities on October 4.

Rawat said at the meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of “Sabka sath, sabka vikas aur sabka vishwas” (with all, for everybody’s development and having everyone’s trust) is the “only path” that the party workers should follow.

“Any deviation from it by a party worker may invite action,” Rawat said as he asked the workers to “fight the tendency” to issue unwarranted statements.

A video went viral on Saturday purportedly showing Rudrapur MLA Rajkumar Thukral spewing venom against Muslims in his constituency, prompting the party to serve a notice on him.

In the clip, the MLA is seen addressing a gathering in his constituency and saying he does not need the support of Muslims and that he will never bow his head before a Muslim or in a mosque.

“Discipline in the organisation is very important and its violation cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. We must always act with restraint, strictly in accordance with the party’s policies and practices,” Bhatt said at the party meeting.

Jaju said a party worker could not dissociate himself from the party’s ideology.

“The Prime Minister’s development model is inclusive. Our action should be in sync with the party’s policy lest it should be forced to act against us,” he said.

The BJP has also served a notice on its Raipur MLA Umesh Sharma Kau after an audio clip went viral in which he was heard campaigning for a candidate pitted against the BJP-supported nominee in the panchayat elections. The party has sought explanations from Kau and Thukral. — PTI

MLA spews venom against Muslims

A video went viral on Saturday purportedly showing Rudrapur MLA Rajkumar Thukral addressing a gathering in his constituency and saying he does not need the support of Muslims and that he will never bow his head before a Muslim or in a mosque.