High command unhappy: Muthalik axed from BJP hours after induction
Updated
Bangalore, Mar 23 (Agencies): Just about five hours after Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, who was involved in Mangalore pub attack, joined BJP, the party cancelled his membership.
According to sources, the BJP's central leaders asked the Karnataka unit to reconsider its decision, after which his membership was cancelled.
The decision to induct Muthalik was taken by the Karnataka unit of the BJP, without informing the central leadership, sources added.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar also asked for Muthalik's immediate removal from the BJP. "His membership should be cancelled, I have told central leadership that he should not be in the party," said Parrikar.
Muthalik was inducted into the party on Sunday in the presence of Karnataka party President Prahlad Joshi and former chief minister Jadgish Shettar at Hubli.
But as Congress and other parties latched on the issue to attack BJP and rumblings began within the saffron party, BJP President Rajnath Singh directed Joshi to rescind the move.
Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said in Delhi the central leadership was not consulted on the decision and has disapproved of it. "It had instructed the state party to reject the membership of Muthalik."
Soon after the party chief's call, Joshi said the decision allowing entry of Muthalik has been set aside.
"Due to various reasons, induction of Pramod Muthalik has been set aside under central party direction by the state president Prahlad Joshi," said a statement issued by the party's Karnataka unit.
Asked about the confusion, Joshi said the decision to induct Muthalik into the party was taken at the state level.
Muthalik had hit national headlines in early 2009 after he and his party's activists attacked young women at a pub in Mangalore. Muthalik is a hardcore Narendra Modi fan and a Hindutva leader. He was a BJP ticket aspirant from Belgaum North in the Assembly elections held in May 2013.
Muthalik, who was arrested after the incident, had apologised for the violence but claimed that their actions were "aimed at protecting the women". The then Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had said Sri Ram Sene had "nothing to do" with BJP or the Sangh parivar.
Muthalik is facing around 45 cases ranging from violation of Section 144 to communal violence. He is out on bail in several cases.
Congress slammed BJP's move to induct Muthalik saying that its leaders, including Sushma Swaraj have been talking about women's empowerment but their party was now "glaringly opposing women's emancipation" and had been exposed.
Party leader Ambika Soni said people should send a firm message in the coming election that "any party which honours, appeases people who publicly violate the self-respect and dignity of women are not going to be tolerated".
"You can see this is height of opportunism and I think that women across the country should take a very decisive call on this."
BJP leader and Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar also asked the party leadership to reconsider the decision to induct Muthalik.
Earlier Report
Dharwad: Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik joins BJP
Daijiworld Media Network
Dharwad, Mar 23: Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik on Sunday March 23 joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of party leaders.
The formal ceremony took place at BJP office at Hubli in the presence of former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, BJP state president Prahlad Joshi and former deputy CM K S Eshwarappa.
Speaking to reporters, Muthalik said he joined the BJP with the aim of making Narendra Modi the next Prime Minister of the country.
Pramod Muthalik who was said to be behind the infamous pub attack in Mangalore in 2009, was the convener of Bajrang Dal in 2004. He is currently the chief of Rashtriya Hindu Sena, the parent organization of Sri Rama Sena. He joined the RSS in 1975 and Shiv Sena in 2005, but left the latter in 2006.
Though he has been in a love-hate relationship with the BJP on various occasions, this is the first time he is getting officially associated with the party. In 2004, he had helped the BJP emerge victorious in north Karnataka.
In November 2013, the BJP had accused him of misusing Modi's name for raising funds with 'Modi-Mutalik Fans Brigade', whose activists called for 'Modi for nation, Muthalik for state' by reportedly pasting posters across Hubli.
Muthalik reportedly has 45 cases pending against him, mostly for delivering inflammatory speeches. He had recently challenged the BJP that he would contest against Prahlad Joshi from Dharwad.