Tuesday, September 6 2005 15:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Disciplinary Committee today (Sept 6, 2005) recommended expulsion of senior party leader Madan Lal Khurana for a period of six years.

The 'unanimous' decision was taken at a two-hour long meeting of the Committee, which looked into the allegations of gross indiscipline, by Khurana, its Chairman Ram Naik told reporters here.

Khurana was suspended from the party on August 20 and a chargesheet and showcause notice issued to him on August 22 after he publicly expressed his inability to work under party President L K Advani and demanded Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's removal for the post-Godhra riots.

Naik said a written recommendation of the Committee would be sent to Advani and 'it is his prerogative to take any further decision.'

Khurana had sent a letter to the party on August 29 seeking more time to respond to the showcause notice and subsequently the party had referred the issue to the Disciplinary Committee. Naik said Khurana had not mentioned in his letter the time he required to respond to the show cause notice.

The Committee had taken into account Khurana's statements over the past two months, including interviews to electronic media and newspaper clippings, while taking the decision.

He said the Committee unanimously found Khurana 'guilty' with regard to clauses pertaining to the party's image and publicly making allegations against state units or office-bearers and decided to recommend his expulsion for six years.