Click to play videoNew Delhi: Almost a week after it reached an agreement with Gurjars agitating for ST status, the ruling BJP in Rajasthan on Sunday cracked the whip on its indisciplined flock.
The party suspended two MLAs Prahlad Gunjal and Atar Singh Bhadana and issued a notice to 20 MLAs asking why action should not be taken against them.
Those served notices include state ministers Kanakmal Katara, Kirorilal Meena, Veerendra Meena and Kalulal Gurjar.
They have been asked to explain their conduct during the week-long Gurjar agitation for ST status.
Bhadana is the MLA from the Gurjar-dominated Bayana constituency, which had witnessed violence during the agitation.
Bhadana, who represents Bayana constituency in Bharatpur and Gunjal from Ramganjmandi constituency in Kota, played an active role in fuelling the protests by Gurjars to demand Scheduled Tribe status for the community.
They had also threatened to quit along with four other Gurjar MLAs if the government did not grant this status to the community.
PTI reports that till June 5, the day after the Gurjars and the chief minister signed an agreement, the BJP had adopted a lenient view on the demands of the Gurjar and Meena communities. But now the party is concerned about this "act of caste division", he said.
"Such incidents have hurt the sanctity of the party and sentiments of senior leaders. Hence it was required to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood," a party spokesperson said.
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