Jethmalani lashes out against BJP’S anti-ranjit Sinha stand

NEW DELHI: Embarrassing the organisation yet again on Sunday, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ram Jethmalani — in a letter to party president Nitin Gadkari — voiced his disapproval over the party’s stand against the appointment of Ranjit Sinha as the CBI director. But the BJP rejected Jethmalani’s views, even stating that action could be taken against him.

“His statements are helping the Congress. He has been publicly speaking against the BJP president and leaders of the Opposition,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, adding that appropriate action would be taken at the right time.

Jethmalani’s letter suggested that the BJP's attack on the appointment was “instigated” by a rival — a veiled reference to Delhi police commissioner Neeraj Kumar — who had petitioned the Central Administrative Tribunal over not being considered for the post. He, however, withdrew the petition later.

Jethmalani's letter is being seen as an attack on Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, the signatories of a letter to the PM that opposed Sinha’s appoint- ment. It comes close on the heels of his demand for Gadkari's resignation over business irregularities.

“This criticism (by the BJP) has possibly been instigated by a most undesirable rival who had to withdraw his petition before the CAT yesterday...” he said, adding: “I will arrange for the delivery of a huge bunch of documents that show how the government’s action, for a change, has averted a national calamity.”

He praised the PM for appointing Sinha. BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha also endorsed Jethmalani's line in Patna, saying that the CBI shouldn’t remain headless.