BJP tried to buy me off: AAP legislator

BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi waves upon his arrival at a public meeting in Ahmedabad yesterday. An Aam Aadmi Party legislator yesterday alleged he was approached by BJP leaders, including Modi, in an attempt to buy him off.

IANS/New Delhi

An Aam Aadmi Party legislator yesterday alleged he was approached by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, in an attempt to buy him off for Rs200mn. BJP leader Arun Jaitley rubbished the claim.

Madan Lal, assembly member from Kasturba Nagar, claimed he was first approached on December 7, a day before the Delhi assembly election results were announced.

He, however, said he has no proof to back his allegations.

Lal said here that just past midnight that day he received a call from an “unknown number” and the person who spoke to him said he would make him talk to a “big person” and mentioned Jaitley’s name.

“I told him to shut up and put down the phone,” Lal said.

Recalling a second instance, Lal said he was approached by two people on behalf of Modi a few days ago.

“Two people came to my house to meet me. I asked what they wanted, and they told me ‘We are Modi’s people’. I remember the name of one person - Sanjay Singh. Both were in their 40s. I asked them what work they had come to me for. They told me to wean away nine AAP lawmakers and form a party and align with the BJP,” Lal said.

Lal claimed he was told that if he formed a government with the breakaway legislators in alliance with the BJP and wanted to be chief minister, he would be paid Rs200mn.

But Jaitley rubbished Lal’s claim.

In a tweet, Jaitley said: “Rubbish claims by AAP. AAP’s alternative politics includes a fundamental right to falsehood and lies.”