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India BJP leader condemns party India BJP leader condemns party
(30 minutes later)
A senior leader of India's main opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for an overhaul of the party leadership.A senior leader of India's main opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for an overhaul of the party leadership.
Arun Shourie said his party was like a "kite without a string".Arun Shourie said his party was like a "kite without a string".
His comments come days after the BJP expelled another leader, Jaswant Singh, for writing a controversial book on Pakistan's founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah.His comments come days after the BJP expelled another leader, Jaswant Singh, for writing a controversial book on Pakistan's founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
The party has been plagued by in-fighting and a crisis of leadership after it lost the 2009 general polls.The party has been plagued by in-fighting and a crisis of leadership after it lost the 2009 general polls.
Mr Shourie, a former newspaper editor and federal disinvestment minister in the BJP cabinet, launched an uncharacteristic attack on his party leadership.Mr Shourie, a former newspaper editor and federal disinvestment minister in the BJP cabinet, launched an uncharacteristic attack on his party leadership.
"The BJP today is like a kite without string. Unless it's got hold of swiftly .. I don't see people within the party who now have such authority," he told the NDTV channel. "The BJP today is like a kite without string. Unless it's got hold of swiftly... I don't see people within the party who now have such authority," he told the NDTV channel.
Mr Shourie described the BJP chief Rajnath Singh as "Alice in Blunderland" and said the leadership needed to be changed.Mr Shourie described the BJP chief Rajnath Singh as "Alice in Blunderland" and said the leadership needed to be changed.
He said that the party's ideological fountainhead, the right-wing Hindu organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), should intervene and help strengthen the BJP.He said that the party's ideological fountainhead, the right-wing Hindu organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), should intervene and help strengthen the BJP.
'Unexpected' outburst'Unexpected' outburst
"Start rebuilding from the top. Bring 10 people from various state units. For me, the integrity and conduct of individuals is most important," Mr Shourie said."Start rebuilding from the top. Bring 10 people from various state units. For me, the integrity and conduct of individuals is most important," Mr Shourie said.
A BJP spokesman said Mr Shourie's outburst was unexpected.A BJP spokesman said Mr Shourie's outburst was unexpected.
"The party gave him two terms in the upper house of parliament, and made him a minister. This was wholly unexpected from him," said Ravi Shankar Prasad."The party gave him two terms in the upper house of parliament, and made him a minister. This was wholly unexpected from him," said Ravi Shankar Prasad.
"When he refers to the BJP as a kite without string, it hurts thousands of party cadres spread all over the country.""When he refers to the BJP as a kite without string, it hurts thousands of party cadres spread all over the country."
Mr Shourie said he had written a letter to the party president Rajnath Singh demanding accountability in the workings of the party, but that had been described as an "act of indiscipline".Mr Shourie said he had written a letter to the party president Rajnath Singh demanding accountability in the workings of the party, but that had been described as an "act of indiscipline".
Mr Shourie also said the former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee had wanted to take action against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi after the anti-Muslim riots in the state in 2002.Mr Shourie also said the former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee had wanted to take action against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi after the anti-Muslim riots in the state in 2002.
"Mr Modi even offered to resign. But there were voices from various corners [in the party] against his offer to resign. It appeared an orchestrated coup against Mr Vajpayee," he said."Mr Modi even offered to resign. But there were voices from various corners [in the party] against his offer to resign. It appeared an orchestrated coup against Mr Vajpayee," he said.
Correspondents say Mr Shourie is likely to face disciplinary action because of his comments against the party.Correspondents say Mr Shourie is likely to face disciplinary action because of his comments against the party.
The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says Mr Shourie's outburst will throw the BJP leadership in further discomfort.The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says Mr Shourie's outburst will throw the BJP leadership in further discomfort.
It has come under severe pressure in the past week after Mr Singh's expulsion and has been criticised as a party which has lost its way, and is intolerant of dissent, our correspondent says.It has come under severe pressure in the past week after Mr Singh's expulsion and has been criticised as a party which has lost its way, and is intolerant of dissent, our correspondent says.
A party meeting called last week to review its progress was overshadowed by the expulsion of Jaswant Singh.A party meeting called last week to review its progress was overshadowed by the expulsion of Jaswant Singh.
Mr Singh had praised Mr Jinnah in the book and said the latter has been "demonised in India".Mr Singh had praised Mr Jinnah in the book and said the latter has been "demonised in India".
Mr Jinnah is a controversial figure in India and considered the architect of the partition.Mr Jinnah is a controversial figure in India and considered the architect of the partition.
The BJP is still India's second largest party - it has 116 seats to Congress's 206 in the parliament.The BJP is still India's second largest party - it has 116 seats to Congress's 206 in the parliament.