Ram Jethmalani expelled from BJP for six years

BJP MP Ram Jethmalani, who recently criticised the BJP leadership for offering a second term for the then president Nitin GadkariA , was expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years for "breach of discipline". 89-year-old Jethmalani, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, A was expelled from the party by the BJP Parliamentary Board after he barged into a Parliamentary Party meeting and questioned his continued suspension. He had also asked if he could be issued a whip when he has been suspended. BJP leader Ananth Kumar said the party's Parliamentary Board met on Monday and shot off a letter to Mr Jethmalani after taking a unanimous decision to expel him from the party. The decision was takenA after going through his replies made in response to a show cause notice in November, 2012. "The Central Parliamentary Board after considering all your replies, responses and letters was of the unanimous opinion that you have indulged in a breach of discipline. The Parliamentary Board, therefore, decided to expel you for a period of six years from the primary membership of the party," the letter said. Jethmalani also criticised the BJP for opposing the appointment of Ranjit Sinha as CBI chief and praised the government over the move. He had also said that the BJP was soft in attacking Congress in Parliament. Mr Jethmalani was also told that he defied the party whip by not voting for the election of the members of the Committee on Public Undertakings. "The above action is without prejudice to any action that may be initiated against you under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution," the letter read.