BJP luring Congress MLAs with money power: Rawat

Dehradun, April 4: Deposed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday, April 4 accused BJP's central leadership of luring Congress MLAs with its money power and asked people interested in the welfare of the state to come forward to "save democracy".

"The BJP's central as well as state leadership is roaming on the streets and villages of Uttarakhand with loads of money in search of Congress MLAs to lure them over. It is a matter of great concern that several BJP national vice presidents and general secretaries are busy doing this in Uttarakhand.

"Statements by BJP leaders that they are in touch with 3-4 more MLAs only confirm this," Rawat told reporters here. Rawat also charged BJP with making the "Congress ministers and MLAs whom the party used to accuse of corruption the jewels of its crown."

"It is strange that BJP has made the same Congress ministers and leaders the jewels of its crown whom it used to attack most for corruption," he said. Reacting to reports in a section of the press about imminent change of Governor in Uttarakhand, Rawat said it shows BJP has begun playing the game of putting even constitutional authorities "under pressure" for political reasons, which "does not augur well for democracy."

The former chief minister also accused BJP of stopping him from taking his views to people. "Stones are being thrown at my padyatras. My supporters are being shown lathis. It shows BJP does not want me to go to people with what I have to say on the way President's rule was imposed and democracy was murdered in the state," he said.

Noting that everyone has the right to take their views to people in a democracy, he said no one can snatch away this right from the people. However, he said nothing can deter him from going on his padyatras and if necessary he will even observe a fast.

PTI