Khurana dares BJP to expel him for joining Uma's rally

New Delhi, Mar 19: Former Delhi Chief Minister and veteran leader Madal Lal Khurana today (Mar 19, 2006) dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership to expel him from the party for joining Uma Bharti's Janadesh Rally tomorrow in the Capital.

Addressing a crowded press conference at Diwan Chand Trust office at Connaught place, which is few kilometers from both BJP central office and state BJP office, he said, ''I am prepared for expulsion, but can not see the Capital city being ruined due to the demolition drive by the municipal authorities.'' ''Delhi is my temple and I can dedicate my life for the people of the city. The party is secondary for me,'' he declared, adding that he would join Ms Bharti's rally at Ramlila Maidan to raise his voice to stop the demolition of the buildings on the direction of the Delhi High Court.

Mr Khurana, said he was feeling suffocated for the past one and half years in the party as some leaders were not pro-poor and were working against the interests of the common people in the capital.

He said he would declare his future strategy at the rally and dedicate his life for the betterment of the people by organising demonstrations against the demolition drives.

He said he was yet to make a final decision on joining Ms Bharti's proposed new party, which she intends to launch as a parallel to the BJP.

His comments came in the wake of the BJP denying him a Rajya Sabha nomination which, he claims, was promised to him by senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu.

Mr Khurana accused the BJP of denying him key organisational responsibilities which, he said, he deserved being a veteran leader of the party. ''Some leaders, who are aspiring for the Chief Minister's post in Delhi, are scared of my popularity,'' he said.

He also alleged that the party had denied him support for his campaign against demolitions in the Capital for the past few months.

Mr Khurana, who was briefly suspended from BJP last year for his outbursts against the then party chief Advani, on Thursday said he committed the 'biggest mistake' of his life when he resigned as Delhi Chief Minister in 1996 on Mr Advani's advice.

UNI