On Majithia, BJP leaders speak in different voices

Similarly, Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani also stopped short of demanding Majithia’s resignation. Responding to questions, he said the law would take its own course and investigations will bring out the truth. “Neither Badal sahib nor we can stop the law from taking its course. Ninety per cent of people who are called for questioning are not found guilty,” he said.

Forest Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat chose to remain silent, merely saying the matter was not raised during the meeting of SAD and BJP legislators Monday.

However, former minister and senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia gave a categorical answer, saying that in his opinion Majithia should not resign. He did not elaborate on the reason.

The dichotomy in the BJP’s stance on Majithia became all the more apparent when BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh issued a statement echoing Sharma. He said Badal should follow the “precedent of morality” set by him and ask Majithia to resign.

Chugh said the demand was “not personal and there was no ill will” but added that the CM had sought Phillaur’s resignation on the same grounds, and that it would not be in the interest of either the Akali Dal or the government to apply different yardsticks to different people involved in the same case.

Chugh also sought the resignation of SAD chief parliamentary secretary Avinash Chander, who too had been questioned by the ED in the same case.