07-25-2008, 03:15 AM
<b>Amar Singh involved in bribing BJP MPs: Argal</b>
Divyamanu Chaudhry / CNN-IBN
TimePublished on Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 15:58, Updated at Thu, Jul 24, 2008 in Nation section
MR CLEAN: Argal says he will soon submit a written complaint to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
MR CLEAN: Argal says he will soon submit a written complaint to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament from Morena in Madhya Pradesh Ashok Argal has claimed that Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh was directly involved in efforts to bribe him ahead of the vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha on July 22.
Argal spoke exclusively to CNN-IBN's Divyamanu Chaudhary.
He also says that he will submit a written complaint, as demanded by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, by Thursday evening.
CNN-IBN: The Speaker has sent you a letter saying you should file a formal written complaint?
Ashok Argal: I have received Speaker's letter. I will reply to the Speaker by this evening. On July 22, we went to Amar Singh's house and came back to our home. Then from my home we went to Parliament with the token money of Rs 1 crore. MP Faggan Singh Kulaste was with me while Mahavir Bhagora was in the other car. Two former MPs accompanied us.
CNN-IBN: So you are accusing Amar Singh. He was involved in this?
Ashok Argal: Yes! I don't lie. Amar Singh spoke to us. We spoke to Ahmed Patel from Amar Singh's mobile phone. But Ahmed Patel spoke only in yes and no.
On Tuesday, Argal, Kulaste (MP from Mandla in Madhya Pradesh) and Bhagora (MP from Salumber in Rajasthan) shocked the Lok Sabha by walking into the well with a bag full of currency notes.
They claimed the money was given to them in return for their support in the trust vote.
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.
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."
Divyamanu Chaudhry / CNN-IBN
TimePublished on Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 15:58, Updated at Thu, Jul 24, 2008 in Nation section
MR CLEAN: Argal says he will soon submit a written complaint to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
MR CLEAN: Argal says he will soon submit a written complaint to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament from Morena in Madhya Pradesh Ashok Argal has claimed that Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh was directly involved in efforts to bribe him ahead of the vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha on July 22.
Argal spoke exclusively to CNN-IBN's Divyamanu Chaudhary.
He also says that he will submit a written complaint, as demanded by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, by Thursday evening.
CNN-IBN: The Speaker has sent you a letter saying you should file a formal written complaint?
Ashok Argal: I have received Speaker's letter. I will reply to the Speaker by this evening. On July 22, we went to Amar Singh's house and came back to our home. Then from my home we went to Parliament with the token money of Rs 1 crore. MP Faggan Singh Kulaste was with me while Mahavir Bhagora was in the other car. Two former MPs accompanied us.
CNN-IBN: So you are accusing Amar Singh. He was involved in this?
Ashok Argal: Yes! I don't lie. Amar Singh spoke to us. We spoke to Ahmed Patel from Amar Singh's mobile phone. But Ahmed Patel spoke only in yes and no.
On Tuesday, Argal, Kulaste (MP from Mandla in Madhya Pradesh) and Bhagora (MP from Salumber in Rajasthan) shocked the Lok Sabha by walking into the well with a bag full of currency notes.
They claimed the money was given to them in return for their support in the trust vote.
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.
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."