The names of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Varun Gandhi and his mother Maneka Gandhi were dropped from the fresh list of the BJP national executive. The list was posted on Thursday, 7 October.
"I have not attended a single NEC for the last five years. I do not think I was on it," Varun Gandhi said, reacting to the development, according to news agency ANI.
Union Minister Smriti Irani, however, has made a comeback to the executive team, reported IANS. Film actor Mithun Chakraborty, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Suvendu Adhikari, and many leaders from other parties who switched over to the BJP, have also been included, the report said.
WHY WAS VARUN GANDHI DROPPED?
This development comes amid tweets by Varun Gandhi condemning the events of UP's Lakhimpur Kheri and demanding justice for the victims.
Gandhi, on Tuesday, shared a purported video of an SUV mowing down farmers and demanded swift action against the perpetrators.
Sharing the video on his Twitter handle, the MP from Pilibhit, adjacent to Lakhimpur Kheri, said that the visuals of the vehicles "deliberately running" over farmers are enough to "shake one's soul".
Tagging the Uttar Pradesh Police chief in his tweet, he demanded that those behind the incident be arrested immediately.
"This video of vehicles deliberately running over farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri is enough to shake one's soul. Police must take cognisance of these videos, and immediately arrest the owners of these vehicles, those sitting in them, and others involved," he said in his tweet in Hindi.
On Monday, Gandhi had written a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seeking a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe into the matter, and that the accused be charged with murder, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
News agency ANI reported, quoting sources in the party, that Pilibhit MP's stance was not well received by the party leadership.
"He projected as if the entire fault lies at the doorsteps of the leaders. We are awaiting the investigation report and believe that incident was unfortunate. He should have been patient at a time when the entire Opposition is targeting the party," said a senior BJP leader.
"They must have lost their utility or relevance. We have seen the statements of the son on various occasions. It is after all the party's decision," added the leader, according to ANI.
(With inputs from ANI.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)