Agrawal told the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla last Saturday that he did not sign the letter urging him to reinstate Congress MP Shashi Tharoor as chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology, stating that he is an “honest and loyal” party worker.
The BJP’s Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal, wrote Agrawal that he did not sign such a letter. The signing of such a alleged letter has also been denied by me in important newspapers.”
It has been verbally informed to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Minister of Information and Technology, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, and the Leader of House, Rajya Sabha,” Agrawal wrote in a letter dated September 26. In the future, I will not engage in any action that damages the image or discipline of the party because I am an honest and loyal party worker.”
According to Agrawal, he wrote to Goyal clarifying his position. Agrawal told The Deccan Era last week: “He (Tharoor) was outgoing… so I said he did well.” It was my spirit… After a chairman completes his tenure, every member thanks him and hopes he will continue.
The BJP MP said he has very good relations (sadbhav) with Tharoor, as well as the Opposition MPs listed in the letter to the Speaker. It’s not possible for me to go against my party’s wishes…Only about 6 or 7 pm did I learn about the letter. The outgoing (person) is always praised in India. I intended to do that.”
Along with Agrawal, the joint letter was signed by John Brittas of the CPI(M), Karti Chidambaram of the Congress, Mahua Moitra of the TMC, and Thamizhachi Thangapandian of the DMK.
