‘Shaheen Bagh activists’ entry into BJP is a political blunder’ Several saffron party leaders express resentment

Days after facing embarrassment over allowing joining of over 50 ‘Shaheen Bagh protesters,’ the BJP’s central leadership has conveyed its displeasure to the state leaders over the issue. Senior BJP city unit leaders, aware of the development, said the top leadership believes it was a “political blunder.”

According to a senior Delhi BJP leader, party central leadership has taken note of joining of individuals from minority community in a strong message to the state unit and termed it a “political blunder” which can be avoided at first instance.

“The central leadership expressed its displeasure and the decision to allow the Shaheen Bagh protesters to join BJP has not helped the party, instead caused huge embarrassment. It advised that such misadventure or political blunder must be avoided,” he added.

It is learnt from reliable sources in the Delhi BJP that the central leadership also took the view of several senior state leaders who explained that the move politically damaged the party.

“The central leadership took the opinion of some senior state leaders over the controversy surrounding the joining of Shaheen Bagh protesters and many of them explained that it must not be done and it gave political fuel to Opposition AAP,” they said.

Some leaders had pointed out to the central leadership that the timing of the joining is not right as there is no election right now and it can be postponed for now.

There is already a strong resentment within the Delhi BJP.

Majority of the party leaders, which include former state unit presidents and current and former office-bearers, questioned the move to allow the joining of these people in the party.

A political storm has erupted after the secretary of Rashtriya Ulama Council’s city unit and social worker from Shaheen Bagh Shahzad Ali and others joined Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the Shaheen Bagh agitation was “scripted” by the saffron party for electoral gains in the Delhi Assembly polls.

◗ ACCORDING TO a senior Delhi BJP leader, party central leadership has taken note of joining of individuals from minority community in a strong message to the state unit and termed it a “political blunder” which can be avoided at first instance