Chandigarh9 hours ago
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In Punjab, two MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) recorded their statements at the Mohali Vigilance Office on Monday in connection with the BJP’s Operation Lotus. These include MLA Sheetal Angural of Jalandhar West and Raman Arora, MLA of Jalandhar Central. After leaving the Mohali Vigilance office after recording his statement, Angural claimed that a Union minister was also involved in the game.
Both the MLAs said that two lawyers of Punjab and Haryana High Court contacted them and offered to get Rs 25 crore each if they join BJP. Angural and Arora did not name the advocates who had contacted them. Arora gave the number to the vigilance officers from which he had received the call.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal have alleged that BJP is trying to buy its MLAs in Punjab. These leaders had claimed that AAP MLAs were being offered Rs 25 crore each in return for joining the BJP.
Following the allegations of the MLAs, the Punjab government handed over the investigation of the case to the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. The Vigilance Bureau has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for its investigation by registering an FIR against unknown people in this case. On Monday, both the AAP MLAs recorded their statements before the same SIT.
Sheetal Angural, who came out after recording her statement at the Mohali Vigilance Office, said she was approached by two people. Both declared themselves as advocates of Punjab and Haryana High Court. The two put themselves in touch with the BJP and said that he would introduce them to a Union minister. He will be given Rs 25 crore if he joins BJP.
Angural admitted that he did not speak directly to the said Union Minister and that the person who contacted him had taken the name of that minister.
Do not tell the names of the lawyers
When Sheetal Angural was asked what are the names of the lawyers who approached him? So he said that everything has been registered with the SIT at the Vigilance Headquarters. He cannot mention their names here.
When asked what temptations were given to them? So Angural said that I do not want to blame anyone, but when people came to meet me near Sukhna Lake, they said that a gift of Rs 25 crore has come for me. This gift will be given by a Union Minister. The said minister will meet me soon and after giving the gift, he will join BJP.
Angural said – nothing directly
When asked whether he got any direct call from the said Union Minister? Angural said that he did not want to falsely accuse anyone but never approached the minister directly. Those who came to meet, they took the name of the minister.
Vigilance Officer will collect CCTV footage
AAP MLA Sheetal Angural said that he has audio of the touts who contacted him. He has handed over the audio and all the evidence of the conversation to the SIT. When asked if there is any video? Angural said that CCTV cameras have been installed near Sukhna Lake where they met. The Vigilance team itself will collect the footage of those cameras.
Angural said that the Vigilance Officers are trying to get the data of the lawyers who have become touts from the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Council. When asked whether the lawyers were fake or not? He said that everything will come out in the vigilance probe.
Arora said – the big official of RSS gave the offer
On the other hand, Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora said that the person who contacted him did not name any BJP leader. Arora, without naming any Union minister, said that he was trying to buy a senior RSS functionary.
Angural said – AAP MLA is not for sale
Angural said that the BJP wanted to spoil the atmosphere of Punjab through Operation Lotus, but AAP MLAs gave a befitting reply to the BJP leaders. AAP MLAs are not for sale which anyone will buy.
No name in FIR
10 MLAs of Aam Aadmi Party had lodged an FIR in the State Crime Police Station, Mohali regarding Operation Lotus. This FIR has been registered against unknown people. So far no one has been named. Nor have there been any arrests.
First 25 MLA complainant, then 10 complained
The Punjab government had accused the BJP of offering 25-25 crore rupees to its 25 MLAs in return for joining the BJP under Operation Lotus. However, only 10 MLAs became complainants in the FIR.