Lalu, Paswan views on SIMI criticised by BJP

New Delhi, August 7 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today accused Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan of flouting the norms of collective responsibility by speaking in different voices on the issue of ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told media persons here today, "Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan are not independent cabinet ministers. While the Supreme Court and some ministers have said that SIMI should be banned, they (Prasad and Paswan) are advocating that it should not be."

Javadekar said that their behaviour is against the principles of collective responsibility.

Earlier on Tuesday, a High Court tribunal headed by Justice Geeta Mittal had lifted the ban on SIMI citing lack of evidence against it.

However, the Supreme Court upheld the ban.

Though the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government said the ban should continue, Prasad and Paswan had demanded lifting of the ban.

ANI