BSP expels Shahid Siddiqui

Shahid Siddiqui, BSP General Secretary, who had criticised the manner of functioning of party supremo Mayawati, was on Monday expelled on charges of anti-party activities.

Shahid Siddiqui, BSP General Secretary, who had criticised the manner of functioning of party supremo Mayawati, was on Monday expelled on charges of anti-party activities.

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58-year-old Siddiqui has been expelled with "immediate effect" for his "baseless and unfortunate" statements in a section of the media on functioning of BSP, the party's National General Secretary Babu Singh Kushwaha said.

On Siddiqui's remarks in the media over the manner in which decisions were taken in regional parties like BSP where only the leaders were entitled to speak, Kushwaha said that the party "gave all chances and opportunities to honest, hardworking and devoted workers."

Siddiqui had "unconditionally" joined the BSP in 2008 because of the anger among the minorities towards SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's move to support the UPA government on Indo-US Nuclear deal, he said in a release.

"But on his demand he was given Lok Sabha ticket from Bijnore but he continued to hobnob with his erstwhile SP colleagues which cost BSP its traditional seat", he said.

Kushwaha said, "After facing defeat, he again started exerting pressure for a Rajya Sabha seat and just a week ago he had been asked to either mend his ways or quit the party but there was no change in his working style because of which the party is left with no option but to expel him."

He maintained that BSP "is the only party where there is no place for nepotism and sycophancy."