New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party today accused BJP leaders Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley of trying to topple the Arvind Kejriwal government, claiming that they are behind moves to lure MLAs to split the ruling party.
AAP MLA Madan Lal alleged at a press conference that a person close to Modi had offered him Rs 20 crore to split the party and promised to make him Chief Minister if he could do so.
"Two persons met me around 10-12 day ago. One of them told me that his name is Sanjoy Singh and he has come from Gujarat. He said he is close to Narendra Modi. Singh told me that Modiji wanted me to get the support of around 10 (AAP) MLAs," he said without producing any proof to substantiate the allegations.
The Kasturba Nagar MLA alleged that the person told him that if he succeeded in getting 10 MLAs to leave AAP, then he would be made the CM and his cabinet ministers would be paid Rs 10 crore each. Lal also claimed that on midnight of December 7, an unidentified person had telephoned him, saying a prominent leader wanted to talk to him.
"When I asked him who wanted to talk to me, he said Arun Jaitley. After hearing Jaitley's name, I cut the phone. I could not make a call back on the unknown number," he said. In a tweet, Jaitley rubbished the allegations.
"Rubbish claims by AAP. AAP's alternative politics includes a fundamental right to falsehood and lies," he said. Addressing the press conference, AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that Delhi BJP leader Harsh Vardhan and "some media persons" were also "conspiring" to bring down the Kejriwal government. Asked why he didn't record the offer by that person as the Kejriwal government was trying to teach the common man of Delhi how to do sting operation of officials seeking bribe, Lal said he didn't have such a device.
"Besides, I didn't want to record the conversation against BJP as this is just my allegation and I don't want to fall into any legal cases," he said. Singh alleged that both BJP and Congress wanted to create a situation so that the AAP government falls. He also alleged that both these parties were hand-in-glove with electricity distribution companies.
Madan Lal alleged that men close to Arun Jaitley had approached him. But BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley declined any such attempt.
Rejecting the claims, the BJP dared the AAP to reveal names.
Meanwhile, The rebel MLA, Vinod Binny, who was expelled a week back, is posing a threat to the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal government. Binny is now claiming the support of four MLAs which means bad news for Kejriwal.
After the expulsion of Binny, Kejriwal is left with 27 legislators in the 70-member Delhi Assembly. Kejriwal has the support of eight Congress MLAs and two others - a Janata Dal (United) and an Independent.
Binny is being supported by JD(U) MLA Shoaib Iqbal and the Independent Ranbeer Shokeen too. The five rebels have given Kejriwal government a 48-hour deadline to meet their demands.
On Sunday, Binny said: "I along with Shoaib Iqbal and Rambir will meet Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and withdraw support if our demands are not met in 48 hours."
