Chandigarh, September 13:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) party on Tuesday launched a frontal attack on the BJP, accusing it of trying to topple its government in Punjab through its “tried and tested” Operation Lotus.
Addressing a press conference, at the party headquarters here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that under ‘Operation Lotus’ many leaders and agents of BJP from Delhi and Punjab have approached at least 10 AAP MLAs on phone, in the past 7 days and offered Rs 25 crore to each to quit AAP and join the BJP.
He said that they are offering to arrange meetings of AAP MLAs with ‘Babu ji’ (a top BJP leader) and also promised them Cabinet Ministerial ranks after BJP forms the government in the state.
Lambasting the Modi government, Cheema said that BJP is working as a ‘serial killer in Punjab and anti-national powers have joined forces to overthrow the AAP government in Punjab as they are unable to digest the dynamic functioning of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government in the state.
“After using central investigation agencies against AAP leaders in Delhi and offering money to MLAs in Delhi, now, the BJP is attempting to ‘buy’ MLAs in Punjab,” Cheema said.
He said that BJP is a serial killer who is bringing down the governments in every state one by one by coercing opposition party leaders with agencies and money. The next target in this murder of democracy under ‘Operation Lotus’ is Punjab.
“Wherever BJP loses, these people form their government by breaking MLAs with help of CBI, ED and money. They did it in Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh. Now, they are doing it in Punjab,” Cheema said during the press conference.
Replying to a media query, the cabinet minister said that the Punjab government will launch an investigation and legal action will be initiated into the matter.
Recently, BJP attempted to topple the AAP government in Delhi, which was elected by the people of Delhi with a huge majority.
He said that BJP is only afraid of Kejriwal, so they aim to stop Kejriwal by any means. BJP is unnerved by the growing popularity of Kejriwal across the country. This is why they raided Deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s residence in Delhi and also raided the AAP office in Gujarat to intimidate AAP leaders.
“Despite all efforts in Delhi, they could not break even one of our MLAs, now these people have brought their shoplifting to Punjab, but I am confident their Operations Lotus will fall flat here too,” Punjab Cabinet Minister said.
Cheema said that BJP leaders and their agents are offering to MLAs that if one MLA comes alone, he will get 25 crores and if they bring other MLAs along with them, they will get 50 to 70 crores.
Launching a fierce attack for denying financial aid to Punjab, the finance minister said that the Modi government doesn’t even give a single rupee to assist Punjab financially but they have Rs 1375 crores ‘black money to buy the MLAs of Punjab.
Raising serious questions, Cheema said, “From where this 1375 crore came and where is the money hidden? Will CBI and ED show courage to investigate this big scam? BJP has kept over 2200 crore including 1375 crores to buy Punjab MLAs and 800 crores for Delhi MLAs,” Cheema added.
MLAs Manjit Bilaspur, Sheetal Anugral, Raman Arora, Labh Singh Ughoke and Rupinder Happy among others were present at the press conference.
