West Bengal BJP leader Anupam Hazra was on Tuesday removed from the party’s national secretary post with immediate effect as per the directives received from BJP president JP Nadda.
Hazra’s removal from the post came on the same day when the BJP presdient and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were in Kolkata for a host of political programmes.
In a letter, BJP’s national general secretary Arun Singh stated, “As per the instructions of Bharatiya Janata Party National President JP Nadda, Anupam Hazra is relieved from the post of National Secretary. This should be followed with immediate effect.”
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The decision to remove Hazra from the post is being seen as the party’s response to public criticism of the party’s functioning in the state due to his controversial remarks.
On Sunday, December 24, Hazra sparked controversy by alleging fund mismanagement during a Gita Path event, claiming that BJP leaders sold event passes for Rs 1,000 each. He demanded an investigation into the matter, labelling the act as ‘blasphemy’ and questioning the commitment of those involved to Hinduism.
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In another incident, dating back to September, Hazra stirred controversy by suggesting that “corrupt” TMC leaders fearing inquiries by agencies like the CBI and ED should join the BJP.
“Those TMC leaders wearing thick gold bracelets and chains and roaming free are apprehensive that they might receive summons from the CBI or ED. I would like to tell them from this platform that they should immediately stop corrupt practices,” he said. He later issued a clarification but the state BJP unit dissociated from the leader’s remark amid mounting criticism from the TMC.
Hazra was elected to the Bolpur Municipal Council on a Trinamool Congress ticket in 2014. He was expelled from the Trinamool Congress in 2019 for anti-party activities, after which he joined the BJP. A year later, he was appointed national secretary.
Hazra’s removal is seen as a message from the party leadership to maintain discipline and adhere to directives, underscoring the significance of following the party’s organisational principles and possibly serves as a reminder to other members to align with the leadership’s stance for internal unity.