If Opposing BJP Is A Crime, I Have Committed This Crime: Suspended BSP MP Danish Ali

Suspended Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Danish Ali has said if opposing BJP government is a crime then he has committed one and will continue to do so. 

The BSP on Saturday suspended its MP Danish Ali over his alleged involvement in anti-party activities. According to an official statement issued by BSP national general secretary Satish Chandra Misra, Ali had been warned by the party many times in the past not to indulge in anti-party activities.

Speaking to ANI, Ali said, "Her (BSP chief Mayawati) decision is unfortunate. I have never engaged in any kind of anti-party activities. The people of my Amroha are witness to this."

"I have opposed the anti-people policies of the BJP's government and will continue to do so...If doing this is a crime, then I have committed this crime, and I am ready to face the punishment for it," the Amroha MP added.

In September, Danish Ali was abused by  BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri who hurled Islamophobic expletives at him. Ali had approached Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla to take action against the BJP leader. The action was limited to a "severe warning" by the speaker Om Birla.

Ali said he has always tried his best to strengthen the position of his party with his hard work and dedication and in his opinion has never gone against the party in any way.

BSP's Statement

"In 2018, you were working with HD Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular) party. At that time, both the BSP and JD(S) were contesting together in the Karnataka assembly election. After the Karnataka election, you were given a ticket from Amroha and asked to contest from there due to Deve Gowda's insistence," the BSP said.

"Deve Gowda had even said that you would be contesting the Amroha Lok Sabha seat on the grounds that you will be working for the BSP. However, despite winning from Amroha, you have forgotten all the promises and assurances you made and indulged in anti-party activities. The party has decided to suspend you with immediate effect," the party added.

Ali supporting Congress

As per media reports, Ali was suspended from the BSP for supporting the Congress earlier in Parliament. The Congress had showed similar reciprocation towards Ali which prompted repeated warnings from BSP.

On Friday, Ali sided with the Opposition and slammed the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra as a Lok Sabha MP. He hit out at the Centre, saying its "brute majority" in the Lower House did not mean it could "throttle the Opposition".

"When filthy questions were being asked by the ethics committee and we questioned that, they started making allegations against our conduct. What is happening? If you have a brute majority, that does not mean you will throttle the opposition and expel MPs from the opposition parties," he said.

The BSP is not a member of the ruling BJP-led NDA or the Opposition INDIA bloc.