BJP MPs allege SP bribed them, show money in LS

NOTE THIS: BJP MP Ashok Argal shocked Parliament by taking out wads of notes at the well of the house.

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Keywords: Abstention, Trust Vote

New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Tuesday witnessed high drama when a BJP member shocked the House by walking into the well with a bag full of currency notes which he claimed was given by a Samajwadi Party leader in return for his support in the trust vote.

The three MPs are MP from Morena, Ashok Argal; MP from Mandla, Faggan Singh Kulaste and MP from Salumber in Rajasthan Mahavir Bhagora. They have alleged that they were approached by a Samajwadi Party MP.

Placing a bag on the table of the Secretary General in front of the Speaker's podium, the three MPs fished out 10 bundles of currency notes of Rs 1,000 denomination. Shouting "shame, shame" and alleging horse trading by the Samajwadi Party, the members took turns to flash the money, prompting Deputy Speaker Charanjit Atwal to adjourn the House hurriedly.

When the House reconvened, L K Advani got up to say that that three of his MP's were offered Rs 3 crore for abstentions.

"They were given Rs 1 crore initially and the rest of the money was to be given to them after the trust vote is over. We want to demand of the Speaker that the issue should be investigated thoroughly," Advani said in Parliament.

He said, "The three MP's approached me and said that they have been given money and that should they bring this money to Parliament. I allowed them to bring the money to Parliament."

"This is corruption at the highest in Parliament, second only to the JMM bribery scandal. Like that scandal, this too is not a small thing and it is related to Parliament. It is a case of corruption. Whoever has given the money, whoever is asking MPs to abstain stands accused of breach of privilege," added Advani.

Advani further stated that Ashok Argal has been unhappy that his name is being dragged up by the media saying that he was going to abstain.

A decision from the Lok Sabha Speaker is awaited. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 5 pm on Tuesday and Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has called for an all party meet in his chamber.

The Left has called it a black day in democracy. CPI-M general Secretary Prakash Karat said, "This is the most shameful day in our Parliamentary history."

BSP MP Shahid Siddiqui told CNN-IBN, "This Government should go. We want an immediate enquiry into the whole episode of the ruling party trying to buy more MP's."

He added that the vote should be taken on Tuesday itself.

BSP Spokesperson, Prakash Javdekar said, "Today, Congress tactics are coming out in front of everyone. They wanted proof of horse trading, so we gave it. The Govrnment doesn't have any moral right to be in power."

Meanwhile, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said that this was a completely baseless allegation by the BJP.

Congress Spokesperson, Ashwani Kumar has said, "This is a conspiracy by those who knew that Congress and UPA would win the trust vote."