BJP's Andhra unit suspends party spokesperson for his remarks on capital issue

Hyderabad: BJP, on 9 August, suspended its spokesperson in Andhra Pradesh, Velagapudi Gopal Krishna, after he claimed that the Central government had no role in the state capital issue and alleged it was not standing with the farmers.

The saffron party, in a notice, said, “The state office of the party has received several complaints against your ill-conceived, motivated, and untenable accusations against the Central government and the party over Amaravati capital issue while participating in some non-party protest programme.”

The notice also claimed that Mr. Gopalkrishna's statements went against the party’s official view. “Your accusation that the party is not standing with farmers is baseless and motivated to hurt the party’s image. Several newspapers and television channels have given wide publicity to your false accusations,” it read.

The BJP Andhra Pradesh unit also accused Mr. Gopalkrishna of launching propaganda against the party. “He acted in a calculated way to lower the prestige of the party and launched propaganda against the party and its office bearers,” said P. Srinivas Rao, the office secretary, BJP Andhra Pradesh.

The party said disciplinary action will be initiated against Mr. Gopal Krishna.