Nation

‘Operation Lotus in Punjab’: ‘Serial killer’ BJP giving Rs 20-25 cr to our MLAs, alleges AAP

September 13, 2022
Sezarr

Chandigarh: The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has made a big allegation on the BJP, claiming that the saffron party is secretly running ‘Operation Lotus’ to topple the democratically elected Bhagwant Mann government in the state. AAP leader and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema accused the BJP of offering Rs 20-25 crore to its 10 MLAs in an attempt to topple the Bhagwant Mann government in the state.

Cheema alleged that some AAP MLAs from the state were contacted by BJP people as part of BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’. The senior AAP leader claimed that seven to 10 AAP MLAs have been approached for offers of money and ministerial berths.

“Serial killer BJP is contacting our MLAs in Punjab. He is being contacted over the telephone by some BJP people who were sent by the BJP central leadership to oust our MLAs from the party,” Cheema said. “They contacted our MLAs and told them that arrangements would be made for their meeting with big leaders in Delhi, and also offered them Rs 25 crore,” he said.


The state finance minister further alleged that the MLAs were also asked to bring more MLAs along and in that case, more money would be given. He alleged that the BJP was trying to “buy” AAP MLAs in Punjab, while claiming that such attempts had earlier failed in Delhi, where it had targeted AAP MLAs.

He said that since the last one week, constant efforts were being made to buy our MLAs. He refused to name the MLAs allegedly approached, saying, “The BJP, through its people, had directly or indirectly contacted seven to 10 MLAs.”

Cheema claimed that some of the BJP members who contacted the AAP MLAs included people from Punjab and others from Delhi. The party will produce evidence in this regard in due course.

However, the BJP is yet to react to these allegations made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).