The Hindu : Jogi offered money to split BJP: Jaitley

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 07, 2003

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Jogi offered money to split BJP: Jaitley

RAIPUR DEC. 6. The Union Law Minister, Arun Jaitley, today alleged that the outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi, today offered money to the newly-elected BJP MLAs to defect and form a breakaway group which the Congress would support in government formation.

At a late night press conference here, Mr. Jaitley played a tape purportedly containing the conversation between Mr. Jogi and a BJP MLA to whom the money was alleged to have been offered.

Demanding a CBI inquiry into the entire episode, Mr. Jaitley played the tape and displayed currency to the tune of Rs. 45 lakhs, which had been allegedly given to the BJP MLAs, Virendra Pandey and Kashyap.

Mr. Jaitley said they had ``watertight'' documentary, material and taped evidence against Mr. Jogi, his son and the Congress MP, Kunte, for allegedly trying to bribe BJP MLAs to effect a split in the BJP legislature party and prevent the formation of a BJP Government in the State.

Mr. Jaitley said that both Mr. Jogi and Mr. Kunte were public servants and a case of corruption for defection had been clearly made out by the available evidence.

He said the tape-recording was clear and the person trying to offer money to the MLAs was ``unabashedly'' offering the "bribe."

There was also a handwritten letter by Mr. Jogi, he claimed. Mr. Jaitley said they had handed over a copy of the tape to the Governor.

Since the outgoing Government was still in office till tomorrow morning, the party would hand over the original documents, the tape and other evidence to police for investigation after the new dispensation takes over. He said this was a clear case of attempt to break a political party and prevent the formation of a government. He also demanded the arrest of Mr. Jogi and Mr. Kunte.

Mr. Jaitley alleged that the entire conspiracy had been hatched at the instance of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi. ``Her own role is there and her name is being used,'' he said. — PTI

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