Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Rituraj Jha on Monday alleged that the BJP had approached him with an offer of Rs 25 crore in exchange for defecting from the party and persuading 10 other MLAs to join the BJP. Addressing the Delhi Assembly, Jha accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise the Delhi government, emphasising Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s record of defeating Prime Minister Narendra Modi four times.
“Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is the only leader who has defeated Prime Minister Narendra Modi four times in Delhi — 2013, 2015, 2020 Assembly elections and 2022 MCD polls. They have started a cheap trick once again,” he said.
Jha claimed that he was approached during a wedding event in Bawana’s Dariyapur following the big INDIA bloc rally on Sunday. He detailed how individuals tried to coerce him, asserting that unless he complied, President’s rule would be imposed.
“When I reached there (the wedding venue) at 9.15 pm, three to four people took me to one side and said ‘See if you don’t agree, you will not get anything. President’s rule will be imposed. You bring 10 MLAs and we will give Rs 25 crore to each one of you. You will be made a minister in the BJP government’,” Jha added.
Emphasising the commitment of AAP MLAs, Jha claimed that Operation Lotus, a term used by the Opposition parties to describe BJP’s strategy to poach MLAs, was underway once again.
Responding to queries from BJP MLA Vijender Gupta about filing a police complaint, Jha reiterated the repeated attempts when AAP members were lured to join BJP. “The AAP MLAs have alleged a dozen times before that money was offered to them. Saying anything using the sanctity of the House is not done. How long will you speak lies?” he said
AAP legislator Somnath Bharti criticised the Election Commission’s inaction in ensuring fair elections. The poll body “kept mum even as the convener of a national party was sent to jail ahead of the Lok Sabha polls,” Bharti said.
Bharti accused the BJP and PM Modi of “murdering democracy and the Constitution”, and said that only Kejriwal can save the democracy in the country.
Currently under judicial custody until April 15, Kejriwal’s ordeal serves as a focal point in the political drama unfolding in Delhi, with AAP members vehemently defending their leader against perceived BJP machinations in the name of the so-called liquor scam.