After video with ‘second wife', Uttarakhand's ex-BJP MLA suspended by party for ‘indecent conduct'
Former BJP MLA from Jwalapur, Suresh Rathore, has been expelled from the party for six years for alleged 'indecent conduct'.
According to the state media in charge of the BJP, Manveer Singh Chauhan, the party had taken cognizance of a viral video on social media showing Rathore with his second wife, without having divorced his first wife. Calling it 'indecent conduct', he said the party had issued him a show-cause notice, seeking an explanation for his conduct.
The video of the former MLA went viral on social media, wherein he is with the Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar, introducing her as his second wife. This had led to objections from the Congress after they called it a violation of the Uniform Civil Code. The code prohibits polygamy.
Chauhan said that the response submitted by Rathore was not satisfactory to the organisation. 'He was found guilty of repeatedly violating the party's code of conduct and social decorum. Acting on the directions of state president Mahendra Bhatt, he has been expelled from the party for six years,' Chauhan said.
After his video had stirred controversy, Rathore backtracked from his statement and said that it was part of a film.
The Congress spokesperson, Garima Dasauni, said that this was an example of the BJP's immoral politics and double standards. 'If it was truly an act, then should we now believe that every public behaviour of BJP leaders is scripted like a film? And if it was real, then was the party's show-cause notice nothing but a farce?' Dasauni had said earlier this week. She added that the BJP initially remained silent, and only when public outrage grew over the former ruling party MLA's violation of the Uniform Civil Code did the party issue a notice. 'This once again exposes the BJP's opportunistic politics and its pretense of seriousness towards women's dignity,' she added.
Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More
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