There is perceptible unease within the BJP over the “independent” moves as a “professional” by lawyer Ram Jethmalani to represent DMK MP Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum case as well as activist Binayak Sen against the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh government. Several BJP leaders have complained to party chief Nitin Gadkari, saying that Mr Jethmalani’s defence of these two is against the party’s interests.
Sources said these leaders are also ruing the fact that upon the insistence of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the lawyer was nominated by the BJP to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan despite stiff resistance from majority of party leaders, including those from Rajasthan. Mr Jethmalani is the counsel of a former BJP MLA named in the Godhra riots case. Mr Modi was the chief minister when the riots took place in Gujarat and was named by the widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri in her complaint. Jafri was among those killed in the Gulberg Society massacre during the riots.
Sources disclosed a majority section of BJP leaders are unhappy over Mr Jethmalani representing Ms Kanimozhi, who has been arrested in the 2G scam.
Mr Jethmalani had supported Mr Sen when the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh government had charged him with sedition. The lawyer drew the ire of the state government as well as a section of BJP leaders.
But with Mr Jethmalani representing Ms Kanimozhi in the 2G case, a majority section within the party is of the view that it has put the party in an embarrassing position.
The BJP had been attacking the UPA over the scam and had spearheaded the demand for a JPC probe into the issue. But with its own MP representing an accused in the scam, it has only embarrassed the party, sources disclosed.
Party sources said the issue has been raised before the party top brass and party leaders have demanded action on it.