Party slams Goel, Jaju's for violation of odd-even

New Delhi: Sharp differences have emerged in the Delhi BJP with party media panellist Nighat Abbas openly criticising BJP Rajya Sabha member Vijay Goel and party national vice president and city unit in-charge Shyam Jaju for violating the odd-even car rationing scheme to mark their protest against the Aam Aadmi Party government’s failure to curb air pollution in the city.

Mr Goel, who earlier led the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party along with Mr Jaju on Monday violated the odd-even scheme by driving an SUV with an odd last digit in its registration number. They termed the scheme as a political stunt of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to woo voters ahead of the Assembly election which is due early next year.

Criticising the move, Ms Abbas sought clarification, on BJP’s WhatsApp group, on the party’s stand on the road rationing scheme.

On Monday evening, she wrote, “It is getting really difficult to defend what Vijay Goel ji and Shyam Jaju ji did today. If that’s the party line, please tell us how to defend.”

Defending Ms Abbas’ stand, a BJP MP told this newspaper that they (Mr Goel and Mr Jaju) should have followed public sentiments on the odd-even scheme.