The Hindu : Tape doctored, says Ajit Jogi

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Sunday, Dec 07, 2003

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National

Tape doctored, says Ajit Jogi

By Aarti Dhar

Cash allegedly given on behalf of the outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi, to BJP MLAs for supporting rebel candidates, being displayed at a press conference in Raipur on Saturday. At right, the copy of the letter purportedly written by Mr. Jogi to the Governor supporting rebel candidates. — Photos: V. Sudershan

RAIPUR Dec. 6. The acting Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Ajit Jogi, said the audio cassette where he was allegedly `heard' offering money to BJP MLAs to engineer defections was doctored, but admitted that he had given the letter of support to the Bharatiya Janata Party MP, Balliram Kashyap, because he had expressed his desire to form a Government under tribal leadership. Mr. Jogi said he tried to speak to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and the general secretary, Ahmed Patel, but they were not available. He said he was flying to Delhi tomorrow morning where he would give his side of the story. Mr. Jogi said he was not aware whether he had been suspended from the Congress or not.

Describing the episode as a `conspiracy' against him by the BJP, he said his political opponents had done it because they could not face him as the leader of Opposition.

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