Babubhai case: BJP to play equity in all-party meet

BJP will insist on referring complaints against other errant MPs of other parties to a parliamentary panel, to counter attack rivals' criticism over Katara case.

Facing attack from its rivals over the arrest of its MP Babubhai Katara for alleged human trafficking, the BJP has planned a counter-offensive against errant lawmakers of other parties.

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At the all-party meeting with the Speaker a day before the resumption of the budget session, the BJP will insist on referring complaints against all other MPs to a parliamentary panel, party leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra told the media.

"There should be equity, fairness. We acted promptly and suspended him (Katara) from the party. But there are numerous cases and complaints against MPs of other parties.

"Some face CBI investigation while there are complaints against some for misusing privileges. Some have even been jailed. All such cases should be treated alike and sent together to a parliamentary committee," he said.

The BJP leader, however, remained non-committal about expelling Katara.

"It all depends upon what decision is taken at the all-party meeting. If the case and other complaints are referred to a parliamentary panel then we will have to wait for its recommendation," Malhotra remarked.

Katara was arrested last week as he allegedly tried to take a woman and a teenaged boy to Canada on the passports of his wife and son.

Police investigation into the case threw up the name of one more BJP MP, Ramswaroop Koli, when a suspect said he has introduced the MP to another suspect in the case.