BJP tried to hush up the issue of former JD(U) leader Sabir Ali joining the party and then keeping his membership on hold following protest by leaders and RSS.BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, who was present at the press meet in New Delhi when Ali was inducted in the party, said Ali himself asked the party to keep his membership on hold till he clears himself from the controversy.
''BJP did not have any information about the controversy and I joined the press meet on the request of Bihar BJP in charge Dharmebdra Pradhan,'' he told reporters here on Sunday.However, the leader refused to comment on Ali's threat to sue BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was first to revolt against Ali's inclusion in the party.BJP leaders charged Ali of his closeness with terrorist Yasin Bhatkal.
Trivedi expressed concern over threat on the lives of BJP leaders during elections. "It is the duty of the central government to provide security to our leaders after arrest ofseveral suspected terrorists in different parts of the country.We have also submitted a memorandum to the government on the security of our leaders last week,' he said.
