BJP expels leader for abusing Mayawati

The BJP's Uttar Pradesh Vice President Dayashankar Singh was removed from the post and expelled from the party after triggering a massive political storm when he abused the BSP leader Mayawati. BJP quickly swung into action to limit damage from the controversy. BSP filed a police complaint in Lucknow, seeking lodging of an FIR against Singh under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for his derogatory remarks. "Dayashankar Singh's remarks are not acceptable, therefore we have removed him from all party posts," BJP chief in Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya told reporters. While in Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expressed "personal regret" telling Ms Mayawati: "It is not right and I condemn the use of this word and if a person has said this, we will investigate. I express personal regret. I associate with your dignity and stand with you". "Everyone calls me sister or behenji even in Parliament. What that BJP leader said, he said to his sister and his daughter. The country will not forgive the BJP for this," Ms Mayawati promised in Parliament on Wednesday, as other opposition parties came all out in her support.