Claiming that authorities have found Rs 1.8 crore from the convoy of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and state BJP president Tapir Gao, the Congress on Wednesday, 3 April, alleged that a “sensational ‘Cash for Votes Scandal’ has been exposed” in the state.
The allegations by the grand old party came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Arunachal Pradesh’s Pasighat to address a rally. According to the Congress, videos on social media showed cash being counted by police officers in the presence of an EC official, as it questioned whether the cash was being transferred for PM Modi’s rally.
“Was this cash reportedly transferred for PM Modi’s morning rally in Pasighat today? Is it not a clear cut case of ‘Chowkidar’ becoming ‘Chor’?”Congress statement
The party demanded the resignation of the chief minister as well as the termination of Tapir’s Gao candidature in light of the alleged scandal.
BJP Refutes Allegations
Terming the accusations as “absolutely wrong”, CM Pema Khandu said that ‘Cash for Votes’ is rather practised by the Congress.
“Investigation under Election Commission will reveal all the details. We have got the information that it has been recovered from a BJP candidate's car,” Khandu added.
Meanwhile, state BJP President Tapir Gao told ANI that cash in question was the personal money of BJP candidate (from Mebo constituency) Dangi Perme and an ex-MLA.
“That money was the personal cash of BJP candidate Dangi Perme and an ex-MLA along with him in their personal car. In this, neither Pema Khandu’s name is there nor mine. This is not BJP’s money.”State BJP President Tapir Gao
Addressing a rally in Arunachal’s Pasighat on Wednesday, PM Modi tore into the Congress, terming its manifesto as a “hypocritical document” which was “full of lies”.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)