By IANS
Bhopal : The Congress has initiated a probe following a TV channel showing footage of a birthday bash of its Madhya Pradesh leader with sex workers as guests that led to the suspension of two key party officials.
Two state Congress leaders, general secretary Govind Goyal and legal cell convenor J.P. Dhanopia, were suspended from the party after they were caught on camera with Bedia dancers at Goyal’s birthday function held at a party office Nov 12.
The Bedia sex workers were allegedly brought to the Madhya Pradesh Congress office from Sironja town, 35 km from here. A news channel showed the footage of the celebration.
“The party will not tolerate vulgarity and corruption at any cost, and if those accused were found guilty, strict action would be taken against them,” state party spokesman Brijmohan Shrivastava told IANS.
“A three-member inquiry committee comprising senior Congress leaders, including Aslam Sher, Pratapbhanu Sharma and Satyanarain Pawar, all ex-parliamentarians, was constituted Tuesday to look into the matter,” Shrivastava said.
Dhanopia, however, pleaded innocence. “I had simply visited the office as usual. On reaching the office, I came to know that it was Govind Goyal’s birthday. I went to garland him without having any idea whether dancers were present there.”
Even Govind Goyal, whose birthday bash caused the political storm, claimed ignorance. “The programme was organized by my supporters and I was not aware that dancers have been called at the programme. I came to know of it when I reached the office and immediately asked them to stop the dance. But by that time video shots were already taken”, Goyal told the party leaders.