Raj House erupts over betting video

◗ Opposition leader heard placing 3- cr bet on bypoll results

The Rajasthan state Assembly on Friday witnessed pandemonium over a video in which leader of the Opposition Rameshwar Dudi was heard talking about placing a ` 3 crore- bet on the recently- held bypolls. The House was adjourned twice before forcing the speaker Kailash Meghwal to adjourned it till Monday.

Mr Dudi has denied the allegation. He claimed that it was an old video and he was talking about the Lok Sabha elections, which he had fought in Lok Sabha election in 2004. “A friend of mine had placed Rs 3 crore bet, I was talking in that context when a friend of him had placed the bet. I have never placed a bet in fact I have no knowledge of betting,” he said.

In the video, Mr Dudi is chatting with a group of people. However, face of the person sitting in front of him who perhaps made the video is not visible. When the person asked him if he believed in betting market, Mr Dudi replied in a local dialect, “Mhara toh teen crore lagyoda hai. ( I have Rs three crore riding on bets).” At that point someone cautions that cameras were on then Mr Dudi gets cautious and the recording ends.

The matter was raised by Parliamentary Affairs minister Rajendra Rathore as soon as question hour finished. Not making a direct allegation against the leader of Opposition, the minister said that if there was any conspiracy against Mr Dudi then he should clarify it in the house.

When the Congress members retorted, the minister said, “It is for Mr. Dudi to prove that the allegation was wrong.” Joining the issue, deputy chief whip Madan Rathore launched a more direct attack by accusing him of being involved in betting.