Many BJP leaders not informed about Modi-Sabir Ali meet
The divide in the Bharatiya Janata Party is deepening ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Sources now say that BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi kept party leaders in the dark as he initiated the induction of expelled JDU leader Sabir Ali into the party. Sources have told CNN-IBN that Modi met Sabir Ali in Gandhinagar on March 6 without the knowledge of other BJP leaders. Sources say Modi's supporters in Gujarat took the initiative to bring in Sabir Ali.
His induction is part of the strategy to have more Muslim faces in the BJP, say sources. Sources also say that BJP leaders in Delhi were informed of his induction much later. Meanwhile, Sabir Ali has now said that his membership of the BJP should be put on hold till party leaders' charges against him are cleared. This comes after BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Vinay Katiyar accused Ali of being close to Indian Mujahideen terrorist Yasin Bhatkal.
Sabir Ali had earlier also said that he will quit politics if charges are proven against him. "If anyone finds a connection between me and Bhatkal I will quit politics. People who make such allegations must take some moral responsibility. I know my credentials and they are strong," Ali said. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who had tweeted expressing displeasure over Sabir Ali's induction into the party, has now deleted his tweet. However, he said that his stand on Sabir Ali remains the same, but he deleted the tweet due to reference to Dawood Ibrahim. The RSS too has expressed displeasure. RSS leader Ram Madhav tweeted, "Sabir Ali's induction has caused great resentment. Party leadership has been apprised of the strong views of the cadre and people against it."
This comes a day after Naqvi tweeted saying Ali has close links to arrested Indian Mujahideen terrorist Yasin Bhatkal, adding that his induction will weaken the BJP's stand against terrorism. Naqvi also said that Ali's induction was akin to Dawood Ibrahim being given a BJP ticket. "Terrorist Bhatkal friend joins BJP. Soon accepting Dawood," Naqvi tweeted... read more:
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/many-bjp-leaders-were-not-informed-about-modisabir-ali-meet-sources/461065-3.htmlSabir Ali steps up attack on Naqvi, says the BJP leader should prove allegations or apologise