Stung BJP disowns 'communal' CD

CD ISSUES: BJP says the CD wasn't meant to be used for UP poll campaign.

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New Delhi: Stung by the Election Commission's showcause notice and the subsequent FIRs lodged against its leaders for releasing a controversial CD, BJP on Friday resorted to some hasty damage control.

With just a day to go for the UP Assembly Elections, the party has issued a written statement “disowning” the twin-CD pack titled UP Victimised.

The party, after apologising for releasing the CD - that contained objectionable statements against Muslims and showed images of the Babri Masjid’s demolition and the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat - issued the statement clarifying how and why the CD was released.

Notably, all these developments come after CNN-IBN's sister network IBN 7 aired the story highlighting the contents of the CD.

In the three-point statement, the party has clarified that:

• This was not the official party CD and the BJP had no intention of using it for political campaigning in Uttar Pradesh.
• People who were associated with the production and distribution of CD were relatively new entrants in party. As soon as the top brass came to know about the contents of the CD, it was withdrawn and the concerned people were suspended.
• The statements from parties BSP, SP and even Congress are being made to gain political capital out of the issue.

Seedy matters

The EC on Thursday issued notices to many BJP leaders involved in the release and circulation of the pack under Representation of People's Act.

Sources within the EC also said that the Commission also filed FIRs against those involved in the production, release and circulation of the CD for electoral offences the same act.

The Commission also asked the BJP to explain why it should not be derecognised.

The CD was brought out by the state unit in Lucknow apparently as part of saffron party's high-pitched Hindutva campaign for the Assembly elections.

As reported first by IBN-7, the contents of the CDs are “highly critical” of Muslims.

After the report was aired IBN-7 on Wednesday, EC swung into action and forced BJP to withdraw the CD.