No threat to coalition, ministers’ indiscretion created confusion: Madhav

By Mudassir Kuloo

Srinagar, Apr 14: Bharatiya Janta Party’s National General Secretary, Ram Madhav, on Saturday said that “indiscretion” by two party ministers created confusion that they supported the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case.
Madhav, who arrived in Jammu, attended the legislative party meeting of the state BJP MLAs, MLCs, and other leaders.
He came to Jammu a day after two BJP ministers-Chowdhary Lal Singh, and Chandra Prakash Ganga- tendered their resignations before the party’s state president. The duo took part in Hindu Ekta Manch’s rally at Kathua in first week of March in support of the accused.
Addressing the media after the meeting, he said, “There was certain amount of indiscretion by two ministers, who along with few party leaders attended the Hindu Ekta Manch rally. They did not support the accused. They should have maintained discretion to avoid controversy.”
He claimed that BJP leaders had gone to pacify the agitators, who have been seeking Central Bureau Investigation probe into the gruesome incident.
“The BJP leaders did not try to halt the investigations in the case,” he said.
Asked about the demand for a CBI probe into the incident, he said, “The Crime Branch has completed the probe. It is in the court of law. It is for the court to decide.”
He said that eight people have been arrested related to this case, including few policemen for allegedly tampering with evidence.
“We want culprits should be booked,” he said. “The Hindu Ekta Manch President has been sacked from the BJP,” he said.
He was flanked by BJP National Vice President Avinesh Rai Khanna, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, state party president Sat Sharma, and several other leaders.
He claimed that a perception was created by opposition and the Congress that BJP ministers were supporting the accused.
“The Congress is playing politics over it. Even the Congress state president has questioned the Crime Branch probe,” he said.
The resignations of two BJP ministers, he said, will be handed over to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for further action.
“We will speak to our party legislature and also to the two ministers who have submitted their resignations,” Madhav, who is also the BJP incharge for Jammu and Kashmir, said.
“Things would be discussed and deliberations will be held about the latest political developments in the state,” he said.
He said that there was no threat to the ruling PDP-BJP coalition as both the parties were working in coordination.
“We have common agenda for development of the state,” he said.
On dropping of Haseeb Drabu from the council of ministers, he said, “He (Drabu) is our good friend. I think he can serve his people as an MLA.”