BJP issues show-cause notice to Nagpur MP Purohit

The Bharatiya Janata Party's disciplinary action committee has issued a show-cause notice to the party's Lok Sabha member from Nagpur, Banwarilal Purohit, asking to explain why action should not be taken against him for violating party discipline.

A front page item published in the local English daily The Hitvada, which is owned by Purohit, quoted Bhai Mahaveer, the DAC's chairman, having despatched the notice on July 9. On Saturday morning, Purohit said from Delhi that he had not yet received the notice, but had found out from party sources that it has been issued.

The BJP's Maharashtra unit has recommended Purohit's suspension for making statements against the party, the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition in Maharashtra and against BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan on the issue of allotting captive mines in Chandrapur district to Nippon Denro Ispat Limited owned by the Mittals.

Purohit said he welcomed the show cause notice. "I will get an opportunity to explain my stand," he added.

He said the land with coal deposits worth at least Rs 220 billion was allotted to the Mittals in violation of established procedure by the Maharashtra government in May for a paltry sum of Rs 3 million. Alleging a "shady" deal, he claimed it was one of the biggest scandals in the country.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde and Mahajan described Purohit's allegation as baseless and misleading. Munde holds the energy portfolio and is also Mahajan's brother-in-law.

Besides Dr Mahaveer, the DAC's other members are O P Kohli and Jayawantiben Mehta, both MPs, and Bangaru Laxman and Babul Reddy, both from Andhra Pradesh.

EARLIER STORY: Mahajan thinks the state BJP is his personal property