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Khurana relieved from vice-president's post

Outspoken Bharatiya Janata Party leader Madan Lal Khurana was today relieved from the post of vice-president of the party with immediate effect.

A two-line order was issued by party president Kushabhau Thakre in New Delhi tonight in this connection.

The immediate provocation seems to be Khurana's open letter to the prime minister in which he accused the government of taking decisions under pressure from the United States administration.

Early in the day, Khurana released a letter reportedly written by US secretary for commerce Susan G Esserman to special secretary (commerce) asking India to lift the ban on quantitative restrictions on imports of 1429 items classified as agriculture, textiles and industrial products.

Khurana had met the prime minister in this connection on March 8. He later sent a letter to Vajpayee complaining that the US administration was interfering in India's internal affairs. This letter was also released to the press.

This is not the first time that disciplinary action has been taken against Khurana. In January last year, his outbursts against prime minister's coterie at the Bangalore conclave of the party had invited action against him. He was then forced to resign from the national executive.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT
BJP papers over Khurana's rebellion

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