EC summons BJP leaders on Apr 11 on CD issue

New Delhi, Apr 9: The BJP has been once again summoned by the Election Commission to present its viewpoint on Wednesday against the complaints filed by the Jan Morcha and the BSP in connection with the release of a controversial CD by the saffron party in Uttar Pradesh.

BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, party General Secretary Arun Jaitley and its spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad, who were present at the commission to present their viewpoint on the complaints filed by the Jan Morcha and the BSP, were asked to be present on April 11.

Mr Prasad told newspersons after the meeting that the BJP expressed its anguish over some other political parties ''ganging up'' against the party in an effort to indulge in ''appeasement'' policy at a time when the election process was on.

He said the BJP had conceded the mistake was committed at the ''lower level'' and informed that the party had taken measures to rectify it.

''Our President Rajnath Singh has been facing two FIRs under the non-bailable category and hence he has presented himself before the police in Lucknow,'' Mr Prasad added.

The CD, allegedly containing ''objectionable'' remarks against Muslims and visuals of Godhra arson and Ayodhya demolition, was released in Lucknow on Tuesday by Leader of Opposition Lalji Tandon.

However, the party has distanced itself from the CD, saying it was not official and not released for the poll campaign.

The person responsible for the CD release lapse has been identified and removed from the post and the CD was withdrawn from circulation.

UNI

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