On 13th September 2022, Aam Aadmi Party raised severe allegations against the Bhartiya Janta Party in Punjab. Harpal Cheema, Punjab’s Finance Minister, disclosed that BJP has started ‘Operation Lotus’ in Punjab as well. The allegations were raised as Operation Lotus was conducted by BJP in other states like Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa.
This issue came to light when Bhagwant Mann, Punjab’s CM, was on a visit to Germany to push Punjab’s industrial growth. On 14th September, Harpal Cheema called a press conference where he accused BJP of offering Rs. 25-100 crores to AAP MLAs. Even so, many incidents that followed suggest otherwise. Here are few instances that question the existence of Operation Lotus in Punjab:
1. CONTRADICTING STATEMENTS OF AAM AADMI PARTY MEMBERS
During his press conference, Harpal Cheema stated that 35 MLAs have received an offer from BJP till now. Whereas, Arvind Kejriwal talked about only 10 MLAs receiving offers from unknown numbers. On contrary, CM Mann through his Twitter handle talked about conducting a meeting with 6-7 MLAs who had received such an offer.
Noticeably, three key members of Aam Aadmi Party shared different numbers of MLAs who had been approached by BJP. In 15 days, only three MLAs have come forward and publicly admitted of receiving such offers. Sheetal Angural and Raman Arora claimed to have received offers of Rs. 25 crores whereas Harmeet Sigh Pathanmanjra on Tuesday stated that he has been offered Rs. 100 crores to join BJP.
2. NO NOTEWORTHY ACTION IN 15 DAYS
During his Press Conference, Cheema stated that the party will lodge an FIR and submit electronic evidence to DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Reportedly, Police have stepped back and transferred the case to Vigilance Bureau.
Vigilance Bureau sought help from Intelligence Wing, Punjab Police as the calls received were from International numbers.
In 15 days, the case only has seen a lodged FIR. No noteworthy action has been taken by the Agencies.
3. SEVEN QUIET MLAs
The FIR submitted reveals that the AAP MLAs received calls from international numbers and the caller claimed to be a member of BJP. Furthermore, the caller assured to get a meeting fixed with the party if the MLA accepts the offer. The registered FIR includes names of 9 MLAs which are MLA Jai Kishan Rodi, Rupinder Happy, Sheetal Angural, Raman Arora, Budh Ram, Kuljeet Randhawa, Manjit Singh, Nihal Singh Wala, Dinesh Chadha. However, only three have publicly admitted of getting these calls. One of them admitted after the FIR was lodged so his name has not been mentioned in the FIR. Why are the 7 AAP MLAs still quiet?
4. NO MENTION OF AUDIO RECORDINGS IN FIR
Another question that arises is about the audio recordings not being mentioned in the FIR when Harpal Cheema himself talked about submitting the electronic evidence to DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Major opposition parties have denied the existence of Operation Lotus in unison.
Whom to believe claims Bjp trying to break 35 Aap Mla’s! says 10 & says Bjp trying to purchase 6-7 Mla’s! Whom to believe? They’re only trying to create a sensation to divert attention from corrupt deeds of Minister Sarari & failures
— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira)
. is a party which loves drama, they have scriptwriters to create diversions from real issues. Their claim that their MLAs are being poached is yet another diversion from their failures & everyday embarrassment.
— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC)
AAP once again fails to produce tangible or concrete evidence of alleged horse trading by the BJP in Punjab before the media. Pb minister Harpal Singh Cheema leads a team of AAP MLAs to DGP to complain against ‘operation lotus’ appears more of a fixed match.
— Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa)
Ramneek Singh Mann, a political analyst stated, “AAP is creating the hype of Operation Lotus and using it as cover to hide their failures and cases of insensitivity.”
The contradicting numbers, no noteworthy action in case and zero mention of call recording in FIR raise the question of ‘Operation Lotus being a fact or fiction.’
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