Keshubhai flays BJP central leadership

Slapped with a show-cause notice for indulging in 'anti-party' activities, an upset Keshubhai Patel today criticised the central leadership saying it would have been better if he had been asked to explain his views in person.

"If I had been called there and asked what I had to say about it, it would have been better...," he told reporters here in his first reaction to the party's action against him.

The former chief minister said he will "definitely reply" to the notice issued to him by the party once he receives its copy.

"I haven't got the notice yet. And when the letter comes, I will definitely reply," he said, adding "It would have been better if I had been summoned (to Delhi) for my views."

The BJP cracked the whip against four rebel leaders, including Keshubhai Patel, last night for hurting party's interests during the Assembly polls by issuing public statement against Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Besides Keshubhai, the party issued notice to Surat Member of Parliament Kashiram Rana and suspended Lok Sabha members Vallabh Kathiria and Somabhai Patel.

Keshubhai had compared Modi with 'Hitler' and had also said that a 'mini-emergency like situation' prevailed in Gujarat in the run up to the state elections.