2:13 pm
Jack
New Delhi: Senior BJP leader LK Advani has dared the government to arrest him, claiming that he was aware of a sting his party conducted in 2008 to expose the UPA's willingness to buy support to survive a trust vote.
Mr Advani had given a notice for suspension of Question Hour in the Lok Sabha to discuss the new developments in the case. A similar notice was given in the Rajya Sabha by BJP member Ravi Shankar Prasad.
When the Lok Sabha met for the day, Mr Advani stood up and raised his hand for permission to speak. When the Chair did not allow him, BJP members, along with their NDA allies, protested. Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha as well.
In the Lok Sabha din, Mr Advani said two of his former MPs - Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Singh Bhagora - have been sent to jail though they were whistle-blowers in the scam.
"They were whistle-blowers who honestly reported the matter in the House. They presented the money. That time I was the Leader of the Opposition and I know the facts...
"I believe that these two members have done a great service to democracy by bringing in Parliament the Rs. one crore given to them," he said
Mr Advani lamented that those who voted for the government "through dishonesty" by taking money are sitting here comfortably, "but my two friends who honestly served the country are in jail.
Both Houses were adjourned following the uproar over the issue.
The Delhi Police this week arrested politician Amar Singh and two former BJP MPs in what's known as the cash-for-votes scam. Mr Singh, who was then with the Samajwadi Party, allegedly arranged to have a crore paid as an advance to three BJP MPs in return for them abstaining during the trust vote. Mr Singh has been accused of conspiracy and abetment; the MPs who accepted the money have been charged with accepting a bribe.
The Delhi police have not specified why Mr Singh went to such great lengths to help out the UPA government. The BJP has alleged that the real beneficiaries of the scam were Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA president Sonia Gandhi, and they must explain their role.
The party also says that its members are being punished for being whistle-blowers. "Those who exposed this scam are in jail and those who were involved in it are posted as Prime Minister," said BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.
Mr Advani's dramatic statement today suggests that he knew of his party's elaborate ruse. In July 2008, Sudheendra Kulkarni, an advisor to top BJP leaders, allegedly asked three BJP MPs to put themselves on the market ahead of the UPA's trust vote. The Left had pulled out of the government over India's civil nuclear deal with the US. Dr Singh had to prove his majority. Mr Kulkarni co-opted a private TV channel to film the negotiations as the trio of BJP MPs negotiated their deal with middlemen who represented Amar Singh.
On July 22, hours before the trust vote, three BJP MPs arrived in the Lok Sabha brandishing wads of notes. The MPs - Ashok Argal, Faggan Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora - said the deal struck with them was for three crores each; they just had to ensure they abstained during the vote. Mr Kulaste and Mr Bhagora have been arrested; Mr Argal is still a serving MP so the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has to sanction proceedings against him.
