New Delhi: The Congress Friday suspended two rebel Rajasthan MLAs, Bhanwar Lal and Vishvendra Pratap Singh and demanded an FIR against them, citing audio recordings in which the MLAs are purportedly heard discussing horse trading and toppling the Ashok Gehlot government.
The party also said the Special Operations Group (SOG), if need be, should arrest Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, whose voice is also allegedly heard in the recordings.
The Congress has suspended Bhanwar Lal and Vishvendra Pratap Singh from primary membership of the party until verification of the audio tapes.
“Our demands are that the SoG (Special Operations Group) should file FIR against Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Bhanwar Lal, Sanjay Jain (intermediary), and if need be, he should be arrested immediately after issuing warrant,” party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said while addressing the media in Jaipur outside Fairmont hotel.
Surjewala also said the party chief whip Mahesh Joshi had filed a complaint with the SOG against the names featuring in the tapes.
On a complaint lodged by the Congress over the unverified audio recordings that it cited as evidence of horse trading, the Rajasthan Police later registered two FIRs, though they don’t name anyone.
Shekhawat, meanwhile, said the voice in the audio tapes is not his.
“It is not my voice, I am ready to face any inquiry. This is their (Congress’) internal fight, which they are imposing on the BJP to defame me. I am critical of Rajasthan government so they are framing me,” he told the media.
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‘Sachin Pilot should give a explanation’
The ruling party also demanded that former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot give an explanation on the alleged list of “30 MLAs” being discussed in the recordings.
Surjewala said the trail of the money being discussed in these recording should be established. One needs to find out “who all in central government are backing such operations … this be made clear. Sachin Pilot should come forward and make his version clear,” he added.
The Congress leader said it is clear that instead of battling over China and Covid-19, the BJP is more worried about political power tussle.
“BJP has played a role many times in horse trading, this is not the first time,” he stated.
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Someone tell this khujliwala, that no force can arrest the Rajput Shekhawat in Rajasthan. He is a lion not a bunch of coyotes like you. Take your Jadd budhi else where.