BH-BJP-SHOWCAUSE

Bihar BJP showcauses MLC for anti-party remarks
    (Eds: Recasting overnight story)
    Patna, Jul 22 (PTI) The Bihar BJP has issued a show
cause notice to party MLC Sachidananda Rai for launching a
vitriolic attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, after reports
surfaced that his government sought details of office-bearers
of the RSS and its affiliates from different districts.
    The saffron party's disciplinary committee president
(Bihar) Amarendra Pratap Singh issued a notice on Sunday,
asking Rai to reply within 10 days as to why disciplinary
action should not be taken against him.
    Although it makes no mention of any particular
instance of indiscipline, the notice criticises Rai for
repeatedly issuing "statements in your personal capacity, at
odds with the party's official stand" and charges him with
"undermining the sanctity of the National Democratic
Alliance".
    Rai had reacted with outrage when the news of a
letter, issued by the special branch of the police to district
units two months ago, surfaced last week.
    "Our party must be careful of the intentions of Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar, who holds the home portfolio. We should
note the timing of the letter," Rai had said.
    "It was around the same time when he had thrown a
tantrum and refused to join the Narendra Modi government at
the Centre, despite contesting the Lok Sabha polls as an NDA
ally," the MLC said.
    Seeking to know the nature of relationship between the
BJP and its ally JD(U) of which Kumar is the president, Rai
had also reportedly said he was only interested in remaining
the CM irrespective of which alliance he is part of.
    The special branch later clarified that details were
sought in view of intelligence inputs on functionaries of the
RSS and affiliates in Bihar facing threat to their lives.
    It also found that the language used in the letter,
issued by an SP rank officer, "objectionable" and said he may
face action for the same.
    Several BJP leaders, including Union minister Giriraj
Singh, have questioned the issuing of such a letter.
    "Why, with a former RSS activist like Sushil Kumar
Modi as Deputy Chief Minister, the state needed to collect
information in this fashion?" Singh said recently. PTI NAC AR
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)