The post of Bharatiya Janata Party president hasn’t been the most comfortable in recent times. Three of the past five men to occupy the post have had serious criminal charges against them and the current president has the ignominious record of not just being accused of serious crimes but also having been chargesheeted while in office.
Amit Shah, who assumed office as BJP president on July 9, was on Wednesday chargesheeted for allegedly making a hate speech while campaigning for Lok Sabha elections in April. Two First Information Reports were filed by Uttar Pradesh police in Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar after Shah allegedly told locals in those towns at meetings that it was time to seek badla (revenge) for insults through their votes.
The police now appear to have had enough evidence in the Muzaffarnagar case to be able to put together a chargesheet, which has to pass a much more stringent threshold in the court than just an FIR. If the court accepts the chargesheet, it will do so by affirming that there is enough prima facie proof to take Shah to trial in the case.
The opposition has, as expected, already called for Shah to resign from his post as BJP president on moral grounds. The BJP is expected to stand by its president, having already defended Shah in the face of previous criminal allegations: he is also charged with murder, extortion and kidnapping.
But it’s worth having a look at how previous BJP presidents have acted when faced with criminal allegations.
Nitin Gadkari (2010-2013): Stepped down after allegations
Now seemingly rehabilitated, it wasn’t that long ago that current union minister for infrastructure and transport Nitin Gadkari had to give up his party president seat because of corruption allegations against him. Although there were no direct allegations or FIRs against Gadkari himself, the investigation focused entirely around his company, the Purti Group, which was allegedly involved in receiving a number of questionable loans, suspected money laundering and fraud.
Though Gadkari attempted to hold on to his seat for some time and even hoped to run for re-election, the opposition against him within the party grew loud enough eventually that he was forced to resign, even as he insisted that he had “committed no wrong”. Gadkari’s resignation made way for Rajnath Singh to be named party president.
Bangaru Laxman (2000-2001): Stepped down after allegations
The rare sight of a Dalit leading a national party ended in scandal after Bangaru Laxman was caught on tape accepting bribes in return for saying he would recommend a fake arms dealer for a defence ministry contract. Laxman resigned the day after the sting video, shot by Tehelka.com, was on news channels, though there was no FIR out against him and even the veracity of the tape remained in doubt. A decade later, he was convicted by a court for corruption.
LK Advani (1986-1990; 1993-1998; 2004-2005): assumed post despite chargesheet
Murli Manohar Joshi (1991-1993): assumed post despite chargesheet
Both LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, stalwarts who helped the BJP become a national party, were booked and charged in the conspiracy to bring down the Babri Masjid in 1992. The party, however, claimed that these were political charges rather than criminal ones. In 1996, Advani was also chargesheeted in the hawala scam and although he didn’t resign from the BJP president post, he did give up his Lok Sabha seat. He was re-elected two years later and also cleared of the charges.
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Amit Shah, who assumed office as BJP president on July 9, was on Wednesday chargesheeted for allegedly making a hate speech while campaigning for Lok Sabha elections in April. Two First Information Reports were filed by Uttar Pradesh police in Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar after Shah allegedly told locals in those towns at meetings that it was time to seek badla (revenge) for insults through their votes.
The police now appear to have had enough evidence in the Muzaffarnagar case to be able to put together a chargesheet, which has to pass a much more stringent threshold in the court than just an FIR. If the court accepts the chargesheet, it will do so by affirming that there is enough prima facie proof to take Shah to trial in the case.
The opposition has, as expected, already called for Shah to resign from his post as BJP president on moral grounds. The BJP is expected to stand by its president, having already defended Shah in the face of previous criminal allegations: he is also charged with murder, extortion and kidnapping.
But it’s worth having a look at how previous BJP presidents have acted when faced with criminal allegations.
Nitin Gadkari (2010-2013): Stepped down after allegations
Now seemingly rehabilitated, it wasn’t that long ago that current union minister for infrastructure and transport Nitin Gadkari had to give up his party president seat because of corruption allegations against him. Although there were no direct allegations or FIRs against Gadkari himself, the investigation focused entirely around his company, the Purti Group, which was allegedly involved in receiving a number of questionable loans, suspected money laundering and fraud.
Though Gadkari attempted to hold on to his seat for some time and even hoped to run for re-election, the opposition against him within the party grew loud enough eventually that he was forced to resign, even as he insisted that he had “committed no wrong”. Gadkari’s resignation made way for Rajnath Singh to be named party president.
Bangaru Laxman (2000-2001): Stepped down after allegations
The rare sight of a Dalit leading a national party ended in scandal after Bangaru Laxman was caught on tape accepting bribes in return for saying he would recommend a fake arms dealer for a defence ministry contract. Laxman resigned the day after the sting video, shot by Tehelka.com, was on news channels, though there was no FIR out against him and even the veracity of the tape remained in doubt. A decade later, he was convicted by a court for corruption.
LK Advani (1986-1990; 1993-1998; 2004-2005): assumed post despite chargesheet
Murli Manohar Joshi (1991-1993): assumed post despite chargesheet
Both LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, stalwarts who helped the BJP become a national party, were booked and charged in the conspiracy to bring down the Babri Masjid in 1992. The party, however, claimed that these were political charges rather than criminal ones. In 1996, Advani was also chargesheeted in the hawala scam and although he didn’t resign from the BJP president post, he did give up his Lok Sabha seat. He was re-elected two years later and also cleared of the charges.