The purpose is served, says Naqvi over Ali's annulment by BJP

NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who raised the banner of protest against entry of expelled JD(U) MP Sabir Ali, today expressed satisfaction over the annulment of the induction of the "controversial" figure and said the matter is closed for him now.

Naqvi, who had tweeted "Terrorist Bhatkal friend joins BJP...soon accepting Dawood..." yesterday soon after Ali's induction, has now removed the tweet.

"The purpose is served. I needed to convey my views to the party leadership and the leadership has taken my views seriously. From my side, the issue is closed," the BJP vice president told PTI while explaining the reason for removal of this tweet.

His comment came after the party decided to annul Ali's induction. Ali earlier wrote to the party leadership to suspend his induction in the wake of the controversy.

Contending that he has nothing personal against Ali, Naqvi justified his protest against him, saying "the perception about him is not good. He does not have a good image."

He alleged that Ali reportedly had links with terrorists and claimed that Indian Mujahideen commander Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from his residence in Mumbai.

Ali's name had also allegedly figured in the murder of music magnate Gulshan Kumar two decades back, the BJP leader claimed.

Naqvi, the Muslim face of BJP, wondered how the party could justify the entry of someone with alleged links with terrorists when it has been fighting against terrorism.