Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to buy out 10 AAP MLAs. said that BJP leaders use middlemen to contact other people rather than speaking with AAP MLAs directly. In the same way that the BJP's "Lotus" strategy failed in Delhi, Cheema predicted that it will also fail in Punjab.
BJP के दलाल AAP पंजाब के MLAs को offer दे रहे हैं, आओ तुम्हारी मीटिंग ‘बड़े बाऊजी’ के साथ कराते हैं
— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) September 13, 2022
₹25-25crore और सरकार बनने के बाद मंत्री पद भी देंगे
BJP ਦੇ ਦਲਾਲ ਸਾਡੇ MLA’s ਤੱਕ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਕਰ ਨੇ, ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਵੱਡੇ offer ਦੇ ਰਹੇ ਨੇ
-@HarpalCheemaMLA #1375Cr_Kiska_Hai #OperationLotus pic.twitter.com/TzSN6tqmL0
Harpal Singh Cheema made it clear during a press conference in Chandigarh that BJP leaders have been in contact with AAP MLAs for nearly a week through various people. Every time the MLAs are being told to talk to some big BJP leader 'Babuji'. Cheema claimed that only one statement—that "Babuji" will speak to them—was made in roughly 4-5 audio recordings.
Finance Minister Cheema said, “Our MLAs have been approached with offers of up to Rs 25 crore to break away from AAP. The MLAs were told: “bade bau Ji se milwayenge”. These MLAs have also been offered big posts. They were told that if you get more MLAs along, you would be given up to Rs 75 crore."
When Harpal Cheema was asked to make public the names of the leaders in relation to the allegations against the BJP, he started calling it a matter of investigation. Cheema mentioned releasing other proofs, such as electronic records, when the time comes. He said that AAP's Punjab MLAs are constantly being approached directly and indirectly.
He alleged that AAP MLAs were being warned by the CBI and ED to either join the BJP or be ready to act. Cheema challenged the BJP and said that it will not be able to buy any MLA of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Cheema said that contacting the MLAs is being done by residents of Delhi and Punjab. He said that the aim of Aam Aadmi Party is to provide quality education and basic health facilities in Punjab on the lines of Delhi, on which all MLAs are standing and guarding.