India’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal yesterday claimed he had caught on tape a senior BJP leader in Delhi trying to buy the support of his MLAs.
While releasing the ‘sting video’ at a media conference, Kejriwal claimed it was shot at the house of BJP state vice president Sher Singh Dagar as he tried “to offer” AAP MLA Dinesh Mohania Rs 4 crore.
“Our MLAs are not for sale,” the former Delhi chief minister said.
Kejriwal also alleged that the BJP tried to influence three other MLAs to get the necessary numbers to form a government in Delhi.
“We will submit the sting’s raw footage before the Supreme Court when it discusses the issue of Delhi government formation, lodge FIRs with the police, and also approach the election commission,” he said.
AAP also warned the L-G against inviting BJP to try and form a government. “If L-G even now invites BJP to form government in Delhi, questions will be asked.”
Meanwhile the BJP leader caught on tape allegedly trying to “buy” the support of AAP MLAs came out at a press conference and strongly rejected charges of horse-trading.
“It is a blatant lie. The AAP MLAs came to my house saying they wanted to join the BJP. How can I drive them away if they want to join the BJP?” Sher Singh Dagar said.
“My conscience is clear. I did not offer money to any AAP leader.”
Dagar threatened to take legal action against AAP leaders, but importantly, he did not question the authenticity of the ‘sting tape’. Also, other BJP leaders seemed to distance themselves from the controversy.