Kirti Azad seeks PM's intervention in DDCA row

Suspended BJP lawmaker Kirti Azad today sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the DDCA row and asked for "specific reasons" for the disciplinary action against him by the party.

A BJP MP from Darbhanga in Bihar, Azad maintained that his fight was only against alleged corruption in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and not against any individual.

"I hope the Prime Minister will listen to my plea and do justice. I will also ask margdarshak mandal to come forward and look into the issue," Azad told reporters here.

Cracking the whip, BJP yesterday suspended Azad, who has been leading a campaign against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on alleged corruption in DDCA, charging him with indulging in anti-party activities and accusing him of "colluding" with Congress and AAP to bring it into "disrepute".

Azad said that he had full "faith" in Prime Minister Modi and would expect him to do "justice."

He said that he had received notice (for suspension) from the party and would submit his reply by today evening.

"I have received a notice but it does not mention any specific (reason) when and where I indulged in anti-party activities. What is my specific fault... I would like to know from the party specific details which will help me in filing my response," he said.

"(Senior Party leader" Subramanian Swamy has told me that he will help me in drafting my reply (to notice)," he said.

Azad said that he has been raising the issue of alleged corruption at the DDCA for last 9 years but never made it a party issue.

"I fought against corruption in the DDCA outside the party. So I would like to know the action (suspension) is because of my raising voice against corruption," he questioned.

Azad also said that he will file a PIl in his individual capacity over the DDCA issue soon.

The action of the BJP Parliamentary Board to suspend Azad from the party's primary membership came after his press conference attacking Jaitley and subsequent acts of defiance both inside and outside Parliament.

A terse announcement suspending him came from the party headquarters but a detailed communication from the Board went to him listing his "anti-party" activities in and outside Parliament, "lowering the prestige" of the party and its office-bearers.