M A I N   N E W S

Jogi offered money to MLAs, says BJP
Plays tape as proof; Cong suspends Jogi

Raipur, December 6
Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley today alleged that outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today offered bribe to newly elected BJP MLAs to defect and form a breakaway group whom the Congress would then extend support in forming government.

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

The Congress tonight suspended the outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister following the sensational allegation.

“Mr Jogi has been suspended from the party pending an inquiry into the allegation,” Mr Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said in Delhi.

The matter would be probed thoroughly and the guilty punished, he said.

Asked if Mr Jogi would attend tomorrow’s Congress Working Committee meeting, Mr Patel said “When he (Jogi) has been suspended from the party, how can he attend it?”

Ms Ambika Soni, General Secretary, AICC, condemned the use of Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s name by BJP leaders in connection with the allegation. law should equally apply on former Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo, she said in Delhi.

Demanding a CBI inquiry into the entire episode, Mr Jaitley played the tape and displayed currency notes to the tune of Rs 25 lakh having been allegedly given to BJP MLAs Virendra Pandey and Kashyap.

Mr Jaitley said they had “water-tight” documentary, material and taped evidence against Mr Jogi, his son and Congress MP Kunte for allegedly trying to bribe BJP MLAs to effect a split in BJP’s Legislature Party and prevent formation of a BJP government in the state.

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

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 hand-written 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 documentary evidence to the police for investigation after the new dispensation took over.

Mr Jaitley said this was a clear case of attempt to break a political party and prevent formation of a government. He also demanded the arrest of Mr Jogi and Mr Kunte.

Mr Jaitley alleged the entire conspiracy had been hatched at the instance of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

“Her own role is there and her name is being used,” he said.

“The conspirator should be arrested,” Mr Jaitley demanded.

BJP President Venkaiah Naidu said: “This is the most undemocratic move made by Jogi who, despite losing the people’s mandate, is attempting to seek power from the backdoor.” — PTI

‘Tape concocted’

Raipur, December 6
Outgoing Chief Minister Ajit Jogi tonight said the tape purportedly containing his voice alleged by the BJP for bribing its MLAs is ‘concocted’ and ‘forged’ and offered to face any probe in this connection.

Addressing a press conference here past midnight, Mr Jogi maintained the voice in the tape was not his.

He, however, admitted that he had written a letter to the Governor offering party’s support to rebel BJP MLAs to form government headed by a tribal Chief Minister. — PTI