DDCA row: BJP stands by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, says Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah on Monday spoke up in defence of finance minister Arun Jaitley in the DDCA controversy, saying the charges levelled by AAP against him were "baseless and devoid of truth" and emphasised that the party unitedly stood by him. "The charges levelled against Arun Jaitley are baseless and devoid of truth. BJP stands unitedly behind Arun Jaitley. He has lived his whole public life on high standards and principles. BJP will not let any AAP conspiracy to tarnish the image of Jaitley to succeed. If AAP believes the charges it has levelled against him will tarnish his image, then they are daydreaming. All this will only harm AAP," Shah said in a statement. He also questioned the legitimacy of the commission of inquiry instituted by AAP to probe the DDCA issue.

A BJP parliamentary party meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, where PM Modi and Shah will be present. It remains to be seen if BJP MP, Kirti Azad, who also has made allegations against DDCA, would raise the issue at the meeting.

Azad’s press conference on Sunday on the financial irregularities in DDCA and his remarks in the Lok Sabha on Monday where he alluded to Jaitley’s connivance have led to speculation if he will face disciplinary action from the party for his conduct. Azad also demanded on his Twitter handle that Jaitley should file a defamation case against him as well.

However, when ET asked BJP’s disciplinary committee head Ganeshi Lal if any complaint has been filed against Azad, he said, "I have not received any complaint." A senior minister in Modi’s government said Shah is seized of the matter and it is for him to take a call on whether action should be taken against Azad.

The DDCA issue rocked Rajya Sabha as well with Congress causing several disruptions to demand Jaitley’s resignation. As soon as the House met for the day, Congress raised the demand and Jaitley shot back he was ready to reply to all charges but the House soon adjourned as Congress continued to press its demand.