BJP sacks high-handed Jain from party executive

BJP sacks high-handed Jain from party executive
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JAN 4: Bhartiya Janata Party chief Bangaru Laxman today removed Dr J K Jain from the national executive of the party for daring to send a notice to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for not taking action against several bureaucrats for branding him as an ISI agent.

In his letter, Laxman also informed him that the party's invitation to him for the two-day National executive, currently being held here, was being withdrawn with immediate effect.

He said that Jain's action of serving notice to the Prime Minister is considered as a "step that is not to be taken even by a primary member of the party let alone by a member of the national executive".

Laxman said he had advised Jain not to precipitate matters and assured him that a solution could be found to his grievances.

Besides the Prime Minister, Jain has made Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary, Prime Minister's Office, the cabinet secretary, secretary (home), director (RAW) and director (IB) as respondents to the legal notice.

The notice served by Jain's counsel said his client, Jain, had learnt from reliable sources that an intelligence agency in its `confidential' report had described him as an ISI agent.

Disturbed by "such false, scandalous and mischievous report" Jain brought the issue to the notice of Home Minister L K Advani who told him that he was unaware of such a report and said no intelligence agency had filed such a report.

Later, on Advani's query, the Union home secretary confirmed that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) had filed such a report.

The notice said Jain, who wanted to meet the Prime Minister to draw his attention on the matter was never given an appointment despite repeated requests.

It was when Jain decided to paint his shirt with the question mark that if he was an ISI agent how can he have access to the central hall of Parliament, the Prime Minister allowed him an audience where Advani was also present. In the `interview' which lasted over 130 minutes they failed to justify the allegation made by the RAW.

The RAW director also expressed his inability to disclose the source.