Date:14/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111462191500.htm

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After Margaret Alva, it’s Makwana’s turn

Special Correspondent

Congress removes him as chairman of its Scheduled Caste department

NEW DELHI: Cracking the whip, the Congress on Thursday relieved Yogendra Makwana as chairman of its Scheduled Caste department on grounds of “gross indiscipline” for publicly criticising the party’s policies and functioning.

Having taken action against senior leader Margaret Alva, who had levelled the charge that party ticket was “sold” in Karnataka and also raised the issue of nepotism in the selection of candidates for the coming Assembly elections, the Congress leadership struck again.

The septuagenarian leader, who has served as Union Minister, joined issue with the leadership for a while and recently demanded a probe into Ms. Alva’s accusation. On Tuesday, she resigned from party posts.

The AICC said Dr. Makwana had been publicly criticising the party’s policies and functioning for quite a long time. “The party has taken a serious view of his conduct and consequently the Congress president has relieved him from the chairmanship of the SC department of the AICC with immediate effect,” general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said.

On his part, Dr. Makwana has scheduled a press conference for Saturday where he is due to make an “important announcement.” An invitation from his office said party leaders from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka would lend their voice.