BJP issues show-cause to Ram Jethmalani

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to suspended party leader Ram Jethmalani after a meeting of the party's parliamentary board, reports said.

The BJP issued the show-cause notice to the 86-year-old lawyer-turned-politician for allegedly breaking the party discipline.

"Today, the parliamentary board confirmed Mr Gadkari´s decision of suspending Mr Jethmalani. It also has sent a show-cause notice to Ram Jethmalani asking him why he should not be expelled from the party for six years for anti-party activities," BJP leader Ananth Kumar was quoted as saying.

Jethmalani on the same day said he was not bothered by his party´s decision to suspend him.

"I am totally indifferent, whatever they do, does not bother me," Jethmalani told media.

"No body can take away my seat from the Parliament," he said.

On Sunday, the party suspended Jethmalani after he had taken on the party over the issue of the appointment of the new CBI chief, writing a letter to BJP president Nitin Gadkari and saying the government´s decision had averted a "national calamity".

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "Jethmalani´s statement was in favour of Congress...party sees Jethmalani´s letter on new CBI director as indiscipline."

Jethmalani had earlier this month revolted openly against the party leadership saying Gadkari must step down as the president of the outfit till a probe into the corruption charges against him cleared him.

At a press conference he also had claimed that other senior leaders like Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha shared his views on Gadkari´s removal.