On Saturday, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by Mayawati, decided to suspend its Member of Parliament (MP) Danish Ali, citing alleged engagement in activities contrary to the party's interests. Ali, who has been serving as the representative for the Amroha Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh since 2019, termed the suspension "unfortunate" and affirmed his commitment to continue advocating against injustice and corruption.
The suspension was formalized through a statement issued by BSP's national general secretary, Satish Chandra Misra, who highlighted that Ali had been cautioned multiple times in the past regarding his alleged anti-party activities. The party recalled an incident in 2018 when Ali collaborated with HD Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular) party during the Karnataka assembly election, where both BSP and JD(S) were contesting together. Despite being given the Amroha ticket afterward, Ali was accused of neglecting the party's principles and engaging in activities detrimental to its interests, leading to his immediate suspension.
Sources suggest that Ali's support for the Congress in Parliament played a role in his suspension, especially considering the Congress's reciprocation of support for Ali during his confrontations with the BSP. Ali's congratulatory message to Congress's Revanth Reddy, the new Telangana Chief Minister, before his oath-taking ceremony further fueled tensions within the BSP.
In response to his suspension, Ali took to Twitter to express gratitude to Mayawati for appointing him as the BSP Parliamentary party leader. He reiterated his dedication to opposing the "anti-people policies" of the BJP-led central government and asserted that if raising his voice against injustice amounted to a transgression, he was prepared to face the consequences.
During a subsequent press conference, Ali denied engaging in anti-party activities, affirming his adherence to the BSP's principles. He reiterated his commitment to vocalizing opposition against injustice and corruption, emphasizing the unfortunate nature of his suspension.
Earlier in the week, Ali aligned himself with the Opposition and criticized the expulsion of Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha. He condemned the government's actions, asserting that possessing a brute majority did not grant the authority to suppress the opposition and expel MPs.
Ali had previously garnered attention in September when BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri directed anti-Muslim slurs at him during a discussion on the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The subsequent controversy led to demands for strict action against Bidhuri, who later expressed regret for his objectionable remarks during appearances before the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee along with Ali.
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