Cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad was suspended by BJP after his unprecedented offensive against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. All he says today is that he wants answers from Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Mr Azad, 56, was suspended on Wednesday after he targeted Arun Jaitley over alleged corruption in Delhi’s cricket body DDCA that the finance minister headed in the past. He alleged today that evidence was “vanishing” from the offices of the DDCA or the Delhi and District Cricket Administration. Mr Arun Jaitley was its chief for 13 years till 2013.
“I want the PM to tell me what my fault is. I want specific answers,” Mr Azad told reporters this morning. He further added, “I have much to tell, but I don’t want to embarrass anyone. What is the point of attacking from behind?” However, he alleged that two boxes containing papers were removed from the DDCA office on Tuesday and evidence of corruption in the cricket body is being removed.
Azad, who is in Gujarat to attend a social event, said that senior BJP leader Subramanian Swami has assured him help in drafting a reply to the recent notice served to him by the party.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy appeared to question the party’s decision to suspend Kirti Azad for attacking Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the DDCA row, asking whether cricket fell within the purview of party discipline.
Unlike their last meeting on November 10 when they had issued a scathing statement against the party leadership, there was no immediate public comment this time round with sources close to them saying that they will raise their issues at an “opportune” time and forum. Azad had sought an intervention of the margdarshak mandal, comprising of Advani, Joshi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, which was formed by BJP president Amit Shah after he took over the party reins. It has never met since its formation and was criticised as a move to sideline Advani and Joshi.