NAGPUR, July 3: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Nagpur, Banwarilal Purohit, has alleged that his party's national general secretary Pramod Mahajan, misused his position as defence minister, of the 13-day BJP government, to serve the business interests of the Mittals of Ispat Industries.

``The country is fortunate that Mahajan was its defence minister for only 13 days,'' said Purohit, who is also a member of the BJP's National Executive.Prompting his outburst was a interview of Mahajan published in the RSS mouthpiece Tarun Bharat today. Mahajan had told the newspaper that BJP's Maharashtra unit has recommended Purohit's suspension for his ``anti-party'' activities.

Mahajan and his brother-in-law, deputy chief minister, Gopinath Munde, had taken strong exception to Purohit's allegations of foul play by the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government in allottment of a vast tract of land in Chandrapur district to the Central India Coal Company to mine for its sister concern Central India Power Company. The companies belong to the ISPAT group.

At a press conference today, Purohit expressed his anguish over Mahajan's statements and also about the reported move by the state executive to have him suspended.

He revealed that on four separate occasions, Mahajan had tried to force him into withdrawing the Public Interest Litigation he has filed challenging the land deal. ``Mahajan wanted me to keep Nippon Denro out of the picture. Why? What interests does he have in protecting the company?'' Purohit asked.

In his interview to Tarun Bharat, Mahajan has dismissed Purohit's charge that situation of the coal mine within 25 km of the Bhadravati Ordnance Factory is dangerous and illegal too.

Mahajan informed that a meeting of State Government officials, representatives of the company and Ordnance Factory officials was held on May 23, and it was decided to conduct tests. The blasting tests revealed that there was no danger to the ordnance factory.

Purohit, however, claimed that being defence minister during the crucial period, Mahajan had manipulated things to suit the multinational company's interests and get the project cleared.

By repeatedly pressuring him to give up the issue, Mahajan has demonstrated that he wants to protect the Mittals. ``Is Mittal more valuable to him than his own party's MP? For the sake of the multinational, he wants to remove me from the party? I had informed Advaniji that Mahajan is trying to pressurise me in this manner.

He told me to go ahead,'' said Purohit. ``Whom should I follow? Advani or Pramod Mahajan,'' he asked in a written statement circulated to the Press. Purohit complained, ``I demanded an enquiry into the deal. Is that a crime?''``The party is not Mahajan's private property.

If he believes that he carries the BJP in his pocket, he is mistaken,'' Purohit said and added that he was was confident that Mahajan would not be able to shunt him out of the party. Expressing confidence in the senior party leaders, Purohit said, ``I know that L K Advani, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Murli Manohar Joshi will do justice to me.''

He said, he would welcome it if a `show cause' notice is served on him.He was disturbed over the fact that the state executive did not listen to his version before recommending his suspension.

Purohit produced copies of a letter written on January 27, regarding the entire issue which was sent to the BJP President, some senior party leaders, RSS chief Rajendra Singh, S V Seshadri, Dattopant Thangadi, Sudarshanji, and other leaders of the Sangh Parivar.

The MP who had quit the Congress on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue said, he had expected the BJP to be a little better.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.