NEW DELHI: In the first fallout within the party of Narendra Modis “puppy” remark, Delhi BJP vice-president and well-known theatre personality Aamir Raza Husain tendered his resignation on Tuesday, a day after he had made anti-Modi remarks on national television.
T
he Padma Shri awardee, who had been appointed to the post just two months ago, had told a news channel on Monday that “Modis statements (on puppy and burqa) are despicable, divisive and can never draw support from Muslims.”
Husain had added, “Modi is a BJP leader, not my leader”. His resignation was immediately accepted.
Speaking to the media, Husain said he was unapologetic about his remarks and was right to resign from the party. “A lot of people like me who live in a liberal as well as minority universe want an anti-Congress option which an Atal Bihari Vajpayee or an L K Advani-led BJP provides for. By promoting Modi, BJP has closed that option for us,” said Husain, who is known to have shared a rapport with former PM Vajpayee and late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan.
Within minutes of Husains remarks on television, several senior BJP leaders took up the issue with both the state as well as national party presidents, demanding action. A written complaint was also filed against Husain to the state disciplinary committee.
“We should deal sternly and quickly with all such cases. Failing which BJP shall be further ridiculed and become a laughing stock in the eyes of the public,” read the complaint filed by party national executive member Vijay Jolly. Jolly reportedly met Rajnath Singh in the day to demand quick action. However, by noon, Husain himself offered his resignation.
Later, an official statement from BJP claimed that Husain had accepted that while holding an important post in the party he should not have made comments which could hurt a senior leader. His intention was not to cause anguish to any leader, it added.
Delhi state president Vijay Goel, the man who had inducted Husain into the party early this year, refused to comment on the theatre directors comment. “He has put up the resignation on his own and is free to make a choice. He is a great friend and has supported me in all my elections,” said Goel.
Husain too maintained that he would continue to support the BJP in the state polls but would not be able to back in the party in the general elections if Modi continued to lead the campaign.
Party sources admitted that Modis remarks had caused discomfiture to BJPs Muslim supporters in the capital.
In the context of the killings during the 2002 Gujarat riots, Modi recently said in an interview, “Another thing… someone else is driving a car and were sitting behind, even then if a puppy comes under the wheel, will be painful or not? Of course, it is.”
