Ready for open debate with opposition on sting CD case: Harish Rawat

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has accepted opposition BJP's "challenge" for an open debate on the sting operation case in which he has been purportedly shown negotiating a deal to buy support of disgruntled party legislators at the time of the recent political crisis in Uttarakhand.

"I am ready for an open debate on the issue on a public platform if some of our friends want this," he told reporters in Dehradun yesterday.

Uttarakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt had recently dared Mr Rawat to an open debate on the sting CD case.

"If the CM has the moral courage he should come to Gandhi Park or to any other public place and debate the sting operation with me before people in general and the media," Mr Bhatt had said in a statement in Dehradun on Thursday.

The BJP leader was reacting to reports in a section of the media, saying Mr Rawat had given a clarification on the sting operation at his residence before a gathering of people he had invited at a programme called 'Jan Samwad'.

The sting CD is currently being investigated by the CBI.

Defending his decision to hold a direct dialogue with people in the form of 'Jan Samwad' on the sting CD, Mr Rawat said it was a healthy initiative by the state government.

"However, if this has not gone down well with some of our friends, I am ready for an open debate on it on a public forum," he said.