'Action against those aligning with expelled members'

New Delhi, Mar 20: The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Mar 20, 2006) said the party would initiate disciplinary action against anyone associating themselves with activities of those expelled from the party.

''Any member of the BJP who covertly or overtly involves himself with activities of those expelled from the party will face disciplinary proceedings,''Delhi BJP Chief Harshavardhan told reporters here while replying to questions on what action the party intended to take against those from the party fold like former Industries minister Harsharan Singh Balli, who had declared their intention to participate in expelled member Uma Bharti's Janadesh Rally tomorrow.

''In fact, it has already been clarified by the central leadership yesterday that anyone who aligns himself with a person who has left the party will be working against the party discipline. Any action in this regard will be considered an anti-party activity,''Dr Harshwardhan said.

With regard to Balli, who had last month gone on a hunger strike in protest against the demolitions in the capital, Dr Harshvardhan said,''Even when Balli declared his intention of going on a hunger strike last month, we had told him that any such decision should be taken after consultations with the senior members of the party. After all, there is something called party discipline.'' Talking to sources here, Balli, however, reiterated his resolve to participate in tomorrow's rally by Uma Bharti.

''I feel it is my bounden duty to join any platform to give vent to the grivances of the common man of Delhi no matter what the consequences,''Balli said.

Balli had, in a press conference called by the now suspended party leader Madan Lal Khurana, announced that he would participate in Bharti's Janadesh Rally along with Khurana.

UNI