Defector MPs should expect protection from PM, Sonia: BJP

New Delhi, Jul 24 (UNI) Branding the defector MPs as 'betrayers of trust' reposed by the people and the party, the BJP today said the party disapproved all kinds of violence but placed the ball in the court of Prime Minister and UPA President by saying that it was their responsibility to offer all protection to these defectors.

Asked about the attacks of the residence of many of the defector MPs in Delhi and their constituencies by party workers, BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said such kind of angry reaction from the people was not uncommon.

The defector MPs went against the party line and either voted in favour of the UPA or remained absent to help the tottering government. When they have wilfully violated the party discipline, they should now be seeking protection from 7, Race Course Road, the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or 10 Janpath, the residence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Mr Rudy said.

It was duty and responsibility of these two leaders to provide protection to all, he remarked.

On whether any explaination has been sought from Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa for three MPs from his state violating the party discipline, Mr Rudy said the inference was 'baseless'. The party had taken 'appropriate action' yesterday, he said pointing to the expulsion of eight MPs, including three from Karnataka -- Manjunath Kunnur, H T Sangliana and Manorama Madhwaraj.

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