Gujarat: Bharuch BJP MP resigns from party, begs for ‘forgiveness’

SURAT/GANDHINAGAR: Senior BJP leader and Bharuch MP Mansukh Vasava resigned from the party on Tuesday. Citing personal and health reasons for quitting, Vasava wrote to Gujarat party chief C R Paatil, informing him of his decision to quit.
The senior tribal leader’s resignation comes days after he wrote to the Prime Minister, seeking the withdrawal of a notification, declaring 121 villages of Narmada district an ‘eco-sensitive zone’.He said the tribal population of the district would lose employment opportunities due to the notification.
Vasava’s resignation will adversely affect the BJP’s fortunes in the coming local body elections in the tribal belt, where Chhotu Vasava’s BTP and AIMIM have already struck an alliance.
In a letter to Paatil, Vasava wrote, “I thank the BJP high command and the party for giving me all that I could handle. I have been loyal to the party always. I am a human being and mistakes happen. I have resigned so that my mistakes does not harm the party. I beg that the party forgives me and I will meet the Speaker in person during the budget session and resign from the Lok Sabha.”
Addressing the media in Bharuch on Tuesday, Vasava said he had no differences with the party or the government. “I have been a BJP MP for six terms. I am not upset with the party or the government, but I am suffering from a severe pain in my back for some time and am unable to travel.” He added that it is because of his ailment that he has not been able to be present in Parliament and make representations on issues affecting tribal people.
Vasava often took stands that put the state government in an awkward situation. He had publicly opposed acquisition of land around the Statue of Unity (SOU), evicting small shopkeepers along the Kevadiya main road and even the declaring of the area around the SOU as an eco-sensitive zone. He had also raised the issue of bogus tribal certificates which people had been using to secure admission and government jobs.
Several office bearersand 27 other members of the BJP Sagbara unit in Narmada district, also resigned in support of Vasava. Motilal Vasava, president of the Sagbara BJP and former members of the Narmada district panchayat are among those who resigned from the party on Tuesday.
Publicity stunt, says Dhanani
Leader of opposition in the assembly Paresh Dhanani said Vasava’s resignation appears to be a publicity stunt. “Vasava’s resignation seems to be a publicity stunt and pressure tactic against his party. However, the episode clearly exposes the BJP’s tall claims. If senior MPs have to resign because their own government is not resolving the peoples’ issues, one can imagine how the BJP treats common people,” Dhanani said.
Issues that he raised will be resolved: CR Paatil
State BJP president CR Paatil said Mansukh Vasava had not resigned. “He is a senior leader and has been minister in both the state government and union government. He has said he will resign during the budget session in Delhi. I had spoken to him a couple of days ago,” Paatil said. Commenting on why Vasava may have quit, Paatil said, “He had raised a few issues some days back. I have discussed those issues during the meeting with the CM and those issues will be resolved. Some land was declared eco-sensitive zone a few years ago. The district collector has made some primary entries in this connection and some elements are attempting to mislead people. Mansukhbhai is trying to convince the people and counter misconceptions.”