Arvind Kejriwal claims 'Operation Lotus' in Punjab; BJP & Congress slam him

The ruling AAP in Punjab on Tuesday accused the BJP of offering Rs 20-25 crore each to its MLAs in an attempt to topple the Bhagwant Mann government in the state.

The Punjab BJP dubbed the allegations as "baseless" and "bundle of lies" and said AAP is trying to divert attention of people from its "failures".

Addressing the media here, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema alleged that under the BJP's "Operation Lotus", some AAP legislators in the state have been approached.

The senior AAP leader claimed that seven to 10 AAP MLAs have been approached with offers of money and ministerial positions.

"Our MLAs in Punjab are being contacted. They are being contacted telephonically by some people of the BJP who were sent by the BJP's central leadership to break our legislators away from the party," said Cheema.

"They approached our MLAs and told them that their meeting will be arranged with 'vadde baau ji' and with big leaders in Delhi, and also offered them Rs 25 crore each," he said. Cheema alleged that the AAP MLAs were offered ministerial positions if the BJP forms the government.

The state finance minister further alleged, "They were told if you bring three-four MLAs, then you will be offered Rs 50-70 crore."

Cheema said when one of the MLAs asked how it would topple the AAP government which has 92 MLAs, they were told that they just needed 35 MLAs to topple the government as they were in touch with legislators from other parties.

He alleged that the Congress MLAs were "bought" in Madhya Pradesh and other states. "May be here also they (BJP) are in touch with them (Congress MLAs)." He also claimed that the BJP kept Rs 1,375 crore for breaking 55 MLAs away in Punjab.

"The BJP wants to spend Rs 1,375 crore in Punjab to topple the AAP government," Cheema said, adding that the saffron party had earlier tried to topple the AAP government in Delhi with Rs 800 crore.

AAP leader Cheema alleged the BJP earlier tried to "murder" democracy in Delhi and same attempt was being made in Punjab but it cannot be successful in its attempt. The AAP MLAs, leaders and workers stand with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann like a rock, he said.

Seven to 10 MLAs were approached directly or indirectly by the BJP through its people, he said.
When asked about names of MLAs who were approached, Cheema said, "Many MLAs have got calls. It is a matter of investigation." The CBI and the ED were already after the AAP leaders in Punjab, he alleged.

"Our legal team will see at which forum legal action will be taken (in the matter). At this stage, we cannot disclose the names of MLAs. In the coming time, our MLAs will come forward and we will present proof and electronic records before the public," said Cheema.

When pointed out that the AAP government has police and intelligence under it and why it was waiting for action in the matter, Cheema said, "Very soon, legal action will be taken as our legal experts are working on it."

ALSO WATCH: Big blow to Congress in Goa, 8 of 11 MLAs jump to BJP

Among those people from the BJP who approached the MLAs included some from Punjab and some from Delhi, said Cheema.
Punjab BJP general secretary Jeevan Gupta, while slamming the AAP for its allegations, said, "The AAP government has failed in fulfilling its guarantees and when people ask questions about them, they try to divert attention by making such false accusations."

BJP leader Anil Sareen asked Cheema to immediately make public from where their MLAs received calls and who tried to lure them. He demanded that either Cheema should publicly declare phone numbers from where the calls were received or quit his post.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring ridiculed the allegations levelled by the AAP, claiming that the BJP was trying to poach its MLAs.

“No doubt the BJP is quite capable of doing that and has a history of poaching opposition MLAs and destabilizing the governments, buying MLAs and stealing popular mandate. But in this case, the AAP appears to be trying to divert public attention from its own failures,” Warring said in a statement.

“Or maybe there is some revolt brewing within the AAP that MLAs are feeling restless and the party leadership is trying to pre-empt any such move,” he said.