Cong demands mantri’s arrest

■ Continued from Page 1 You can conduct a probe. I am ready for an investigation,” Mr Shekhawat, Union minister for Jal Shakti, said.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala claimed that the conspiracy to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan was clear in the audio tapes.

“Two audio tapes surfaced last night on the so-called conversation of Union minister Gajendra Singh, Congress MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma and BJP leader Sanjay Jain. The conspiracy to topple the Congress government is clear through the so-called conversation. This is a black chapter in the history of democracy,” he said at a press conference in Jaipur.

He also said that Sachin Pilot, who is the pivot around which the MLAs were grouping, should make his stand clear publicly about the alleged mention of “providing the list of MLAs to BJP” in the audio tapes. Mr Surjewala demanded an investigation into the involvement of others who are holding posts in the Central government. The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan police arrested Sanjay Jain on Friday. Congress MLA Chetan Dudi, whose name was also discussed during the purported conversation in the audio tapes, said he will approach the SOG to record his statement because he was allegedly offered money. Though a cold war had been persisting between Mr Gehlot and his former deputy for a while, things came to a boil last Friday when the Rajasthan police sent a notice to Mr Pilot.