BJP suspends Kirti for taking on Arun Jaitley

Cricketer-turned lawmaker of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Kirti Azad was yesterday suspended by the party for publicly targeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with allegations of corruption in Delhi's cricket body DDCA.

In a statement, the party said Azad had been suspended with immediate effect for "anti-party activities".

Show cause notice had earlier been issued to Azad asking him to explain his "anti-party conduct", the party said, adding that further action will depend on his reply.

Azad had defied BJP chief Amit Shah and went ahead with a press conference on Sunday last highlighting corruption allegations linked to Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) of which Jaitley was the president for 13 years till 2013.

The BJP MP, who has been backed by former India cricket captain Bishen Singh Bedi and sulking BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, followed up the presser with an open dare on social media and barbs in Parliament targeting Jaitley, prompting the party to crack the whip.

Though Azad has been unrelenting in his attack, Jaitley has chosen not to proceed against him even as he dragged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, slapping civil and criminal defamation suits against them in the Delhi High Court and a trial court here.

BJP has rallied around the finance minister with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he will come out of it with flying colours. Amit Shah also batted for him saying the party stands united with him.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had defended Jaitley at a weekly meeting of BJP lawmakers.