A delegation of AAP MLAs reached the headquarters of Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday to meet the director and demand a probe into the alleged toppling of governments in various states by the BJP under “Operation Lotus”. After a while, a officer from the central agency came outside to meet the 10-member delegation led by AAP MLA Atishi.
Atishi said the party had earlier sent an email to CBI director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal’s office seeking an appointment with him but it was yet to get a response. “We have come here and are demanding that time be given to us (to meet the CBI director) because ‘Operation Lotus’ is a very important issue. The BJP has spent Rs 6,300 crore on ‘Operation Lotus’. Hence, a CBI investigation should be conducted (into the matter) and the source of this money should be ascertained,” Atishi told the media, adding, “we are hopeful of being allotted time.”
Earlier in the day, during the special session of the Delhi assembly, the AAP legislator said whenever the BJP lost an assembly elections in any state, its ‘Operation Lotus’ began with the use of CBI and Enforcement Directorate to corner the state government. Thereafter, the ruling party MLAs were offered money and promised that cases against them will be withdrawn if they joined the BJP, she alleged.
The BJP has denied the allegations. AAP MLAs, meanwhile, protested in front of Gandhi statue and burnt effigies of the saffron party.
AAP leaders, including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, have claimed that the BJP targeted 40 MLAs of the ruling party in Delhi offering them Rs 20 crore each to switch sides. Atishi alleged that whenever the BJP loses assembly elections in any state, its ‘Operation Lotus’ begins with the use of the CBI and ED to corner the opposition government there.
Thereafter, the ruling party MLAs are offered money and promised withdrawing cases against them if they left their party and joined the BJP, she alleged further.
The BJP has dismissed the allegations.
Delhi Assembly proceedings were adjourned till Thursday following slogan shouting by ruling AAP MLAs who demanded a CBI probe into the alleged “Operation Lotus” by the BJP.
As soon as the House assembled for a discussion on the confidence motion on Wednesday, BJP MLA Vijender Gupta asked Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla to take up his calling attention motion, even as AAP MLA Atishi tried to raise the issue of alleged “Operation Lotus” of the BJP.
Members of both sides shouted slogans, prompting Birla to adjourn the House till 11.30 am. Gupta’s calling attention motion concerned alleged corruption in the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools.
When the House reconvened, Gupta asked Birla under which rule she allowed Atishi to make a statement on issues other than the no-confidence motion. Atishi alleged that the BJP is an “anti-women party as its members do not allow a woman to speak while another woman is in the chair”.
She alleged that the BJP tried to de-establish the Delhi government through its “Operation Lotus which involves three steps — using central agencies (ED, CBI, Income Tax department), scaring ruling party MLAs and luring them”.
“Our MLAs were offered Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore to leave the AAP. Is this the democracy the prime minister talks about from the Red Fort. This is not the first time they are doing so. They did the same in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,” she alleged.
“The BJP has bought 277 MLAs for Rs 6,300 crore under the ‘Operation Lotus’. They collected this money by increasing fuel prices,” she alleged.
AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak said, “We welcome and support BJP MPs demand for probe into AAP MLAs’ poaching allegations.” Party MLA Kuldeep Kumar alleged that when he refused the BJP’s offer of Rs 20 crore, “they threatened to frame me and send behind the bars in a fake case”.
AAP MLAs raised slogans, demanding CBI probe into alleged “Operation Lotus”, following which the House was adjourned for the day. This was the third day of the special session that was disrupted with ruling AAP and opposition BJP MLAs forcing adjournments.
The session had begun on Friday.
Read all the Latest Politics News and Breaking News here
Comments
0 comment