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New Delhi: Within 24 hours, the Bharatiya Janata Party annulled the membership of expelled Janata Dal United leader Sabir Ali after opposition in the party over his alleged links with terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had also expressed its displeasure over Ali's induction.
BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was the first one to openly criticise the party's decision alleging that Ali has links with Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal.
The objection raised by Naqvi and the RSS resulted in party President Rajnath Singh deciding to annul Ali's membership all together.
In fact, sources say that Ali met BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on March 6 and the decision of the former joining the party was communicated to leaders in Delhi later.
Naqvi created a furore after tweeting on Friday that if Sabir Ali with allegations of hobnobbing with Indian Mujahideen's Bhatkal can join the BJP, will underworld don and terrorist Dawood Ibrahim be the next? He tweeted, "Terrorist Bhatkal friend joins BJP. Soon accepting Dawood." He deleted the tweet on Saturday morning but the pandora's box had been opened with both the Congress and BJP leaders questioning the move.
BJP leader Balbir Punj, too, said, "Irrespective of the charges against Sabir Ali, his persona, his past is inconsistent with the nationalist image of the BJP. The decision must be reversed."
Congress leader Kapil Sibal hit out at the BJP saying, "BJP has no ideology. It is out to compromise to any extent for Modi. It is Modi's Samjhauta express."
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, however, tried to defend the decision. He said, "Guilty or innocent should be decided by court, not by political rivals or TV anchors."
With RSS also expressing its displeasure, the stage appeared set for Sabir Ali to go the Pramod Muthalik way, but Ali has decided to go down fighting. He said, "I will file defamation case against Naqvi."
The BJP has attempted to put a lid on the controversy by expelling Sabir Ali but the man who first raised the red flag concedes that hasty decisions like inducting Muthalik and Ali might harm the party.
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