Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Home-page / New purported sting targets Rawat; BJP, Cong trade charges
BackBack

New purported sting targets Rawat; BJP, Cong trade charges

Harish Rawat accused the NDA government and the BJP of indulging in politics of blackmail and creating unrest in the hill state

As the political fight over the Uttarakhand crisis escalated, a new purported sting video targeting deposed chief minister Harish Rawat emerged. Photo: PTIPremium
As the political fight over the Uttarakhand crisis escalated, a new purported sting video targeting deposed chief minister Harish Rawat emerged. Photo: PTI

Dehradun: Ahead of the 10 May trust vote in Uttarakhand, a new purported sting video targeting deposed chief minister Harish Rawat emerged on Sunday, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to accuse him of trying to “buy" legislators.

As the political fight over the Uttarakhand crisis escalated, Rawat accused the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the BJP of indulging in “politics of blackmail" and creating “unrest" in the hill state.

He also alleged that the Congress MLAs were being threatened and their phones tapped by central agencies.

A purported sting video targeting Rawat which allegedly showed a conversation between rebel Congress MLA Harak Singh Rawat and Congress legislator Madan Singh Bisht was released on Sunday by a private news channel in Delhi.

Bisht is purported to have said in the video that Harish Rawat was giving the money he had earned from mining to his MLAs to keep his flock together.

BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshyari alleged that the video showed that Harish Rawat was “himself involved in horse-trading".

“Earlier also there was a sting and now also a new sting video has come out in which the MLA is himself saying that the chief minister is giving 25-30 lakh to his own MLAs to placate them," he claimed at a press conference in New Delhi.

The Congress hit back alleging that the BJP was hatching a conspiracy against Harish Rawat ahead of the trust vote. The party also wrote to governor K K Paul, demanding that the BJP leader and Uttarkhand incharge Kailash Vijayvargiya be kept away from the state till the trust vote takes place as he was “trying to vitiate the political atmosphere" in the state.

“I charge the central government and the BJP that they are trying to create this politics of siege and unrest in this state. I have decided that after 10 May result, all these blackmailers who are blatantly trying to trap people by offering financial and other allurements, who are trying to blackmail the people, we will launch a fight against them under the leadership of Kishor Upadhyaya," Rawat said.

The Congress leader alleged that his phones and those of his relatives and aides were being tapped.

“Central agencies are harassing Congress people through various ways," he alleged.

“Central agencies are openly being misused and not only my MLAs but political leaders are being threatened," he said.

“Our MLAs and leaders are getting threatening messages from conduits who are posing as relatives, well-wishers and acquaintances," Rawat said.

“I am also being kept under surveillance as if I am an anti-national," he alleged.

Rawat had faced allegations of horse-trading earlier after a purported sting video allegedly showed him negotiating to bring back rebel legislators.

The Supreme Court had on Friday ordered a floor test in Uttarakhand assembly on 10 May when Harish Rawat will seek a vote of confidence.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More Less
Published: 08 May 2016, 09:16 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App