Jethmalani gatecrashes BJP meet

Jethmalani is learnt to have argued that the BJP has to sharpen its attack on the government,saying that the partys offensive against the UPA is mild and it is not putting enough pressure on the government. Some of the MPs interpreted his remarks as an insinuation that the BJP was hand-in-glove with the government.

His remarks,which came in the presence of L K Advani and Leaders of the Opposition Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj,enraged many of the MPs present at the meeting. Some of them demanded that the party should expel him. Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said Jethmalanis remarks were inappropriate. He said Jethmalani should not have attended the meeting.

Jethmalani,who was suspended in November last year after he questioned the BJPs stand on the appointment of the CBI Director,also broached the issue of his suspension. He wanted to know whether the party was mulling revocation of his suspension or planning to expel him.

He said he should either be thrown out of the party or the notice be taken back.

Sources said BJP MPs,including Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shahnawaz Hussain,objected to Jethmalanis tirade and said such behaviour should not be tolerated.