Babloo’s induction into BJP revoked

LUCKNOW The Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) has shown the door to former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lawmaker Jitendra Singh Babloo, who was inducted into the party barely five days back on August 4.

Himanshu Dubey, BJP’S co-media in-charge confirmed the decision. “UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev has cancelled the joining of former BSP MLA,” Dubey said.

The cancellation of Babloo’s membership happened two days after BJP MP from Prayagraj Rita Bahuguna Joshi met BJP chief JP Nadda during his two-day UP visit and communicated her opposition to Babloo’s induction.

Babloo was arrested in 2011 in connection with alleged arson at the then Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s Lucknow residence in July 2009. Immediately after Babloo’s joining, Joshi had released a video statement opposing the joining.

“In July 2009, when my house was targeted and burnt, Babloo was leading the arsonists. The charges against him have been framed. I am sure that he joined the party after hiding facts (about his alleged involvement in arson),” she had said. She said she would appeal to BJP national chief JP Nadda as well as state BJP president Swatantra Dev to cancel Babloo’s joining.

Babloo was not only named in the arson case that took place in Lucknow on the night of July 15, 2009, but also subsequently arrested by the CB-CID. Joshi’s house in the high security Lucknow area was allegedly targeted by Bahujan Samaj Party leaders following her alleged remarks against BSP chief Mayawati, who was the Uttar Pradesh chief minister at the time.

Jitendra Singh Babloo, however, claimed he was innocent.

“I had no role in the arson case. In fact, this is one of the reasons why I fell out with Mayawati. I was arrested in the case despite the fact that I had no role in the case,” he said.