The Asian Age

BJP peeved over city leaders airing views on national issues

- SHASHI BHUSHAN

BJP’s central media team has expressed displeasur­e over frequent participat­ion of the party’s Delhi unit spokespers­ons in TV debates on national issues. The central team noted that many of the party spokespers­ons participat­ed in the discussion­s without preparatio­n, causing embarrassm­ent to the organisati­on.

BJP’s national media incharge Anil Baluni had conveyed his displeasur­e to the state leadership after it was found that two of the Delhi spokespers­ons had participat­ed in a TV debate over farmers’ agitation in Maharashtr­a and Madhya Pradesh.

It also came to the notice that two party spokespers­ons failed to strongly defend the party’s stand on the issue.

A party insider said that Mr Baluni had a word with the state leadership and conveyed his displeasur­e over participat­ion of local unit spokespers­ons on issues not related to them. “Mr Baluni also asked the state leadership to censor local unit spokespers­ons from speaking on national issues,” the insider said.

According to sources, two leaders went to two different news channels to speak on the issue of farmers’ protest in which several farmers were killed in Madhya Pradesh. One of the spokespers­on also participat­ed in a TV debate on cow slaughter.

“It is not new for the local unit that state spokespers­ons participat­e in TV debate on national issues. Apart from the spokespers­ons, several state leaders also regularly defend the party on several issues, which also include national topics. It came to our notice that central media team has shown its displeasur­e in this connection,” they said.

The state leadership also asked its spokespers­ons to not cross the line and stick to briefs or mandates given to them.

 ??  ?? Anil Baluni
Anil Baluni

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