BSP expels MP for Modi praise

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Vijay Bahadur Singh

The BSP on Wednesday expelled party MP Vijay Bahadur Singh for defending the controversial “puppy” remark of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. Last month, the BSP had denied renomination for Mr Singh from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat for the next election.
The BSP in its media statement on Tuesday said that Mr Singh’s statements had been against the “philosophy and principles” of the party. While the BSP expelled Mr Singh for defending Gujarat chief minister’s controversial remarks, sources said that the Hamirpur MP was exploring the option to contest the next Lok Sabha elections from other party, sources said.
The BSP, however, stated in its statement that despite repeated warnings Mr Singh continued to make statements which were not in sync with party lines. The party has informed Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar about the expulsion decision. While Mr Singh had raised few eyebrows in the political circle by coming into defence of Mr Modi, the party supremo had distanced herself from his statement. She had stated that Mr Singh’s defence of Mr Modi was personal, but had stressed that the party had taken note of the BSP MP’s “disease” of making public statements.
Mr Singh, who is a first-time MP and also a lawyer, in his defence of Mr Modi’s remark had said that this showed that he was a “sensitive” person and his comments had been misinterpreted.
“If he says that he feels bad if a puppy gets crushed under the wheels of his car, then it shows that he is a sensitive and compassionate person. These are my personal views, but his remarks should not be misinterpreted. He is not referring to any community,” Mr Singh had said in his reaction to Mr Modi’s “puppy” remark. Further coming in support of the Gujarat chief minister, Mr Singh had said, “Modi’s statement is 100 per cent correct and it is in the interest of the nation. Those who oppose him are doing so for political interests. Those who oppose his remarks are anti-nationals.”