BJP hits AAP with fresh ‘cash for ticket’ videos; Party denies claim

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released two videos purportedly shot by a former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member, and alleged that the AAP has sold tickets to candidates contesting the upcoming municipal corporation elections.

The AAP hit back, accusing the BJP of releasing fake sting videos over fears of losing the MCD polls, scheduled for December 4. Former AAP member Bindu Sriram, who shot the videos, has claimed that she was asked to fork out ₹80 lakh to get a party ticket from Rohini ward D to contest the MCD polls. She and the BJP have claimed that, the first video, she discusses how to make the payment with Puneet Goel, the AAP in-charge for the Rohini assembly constituency, and that in the second video, she discusses the matter with the party’s North West

Delhi Lok Sabha in-charge RR Pathania.

HT has not independently verified the authenticity of the video. The AAP has alleged that they are doctored.

Releasing the videos at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “This is the mother of all stings. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal used to ask people to do sting operations to expose corruption. Today, (former AAP worker) Bindu has exposed the AAP which has sold tickets for the municipal elections. She was asked to pay ₹80 lakh to get a ticket from Rohini ward D.”

He added, “Pathania and Goel have links with a five-member committee of the AAP that was associated with ticket distribution. In the video, the members are heard naming AAP minister Gopal

Rai, MLAS Durgesh Pathak, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi. They don’t name Adil Khan, who is the APMC chairman, but he is the fifth member of that committee.”

BJP leader and Rohini legislator Vijender Gupta, who was also present, said, “It is not just MCD elections, in the video it is clear that they sold tickets for the assembly election too. We demand an investigation by the Anti-corruption Branch (ACB).”

Speaking at the press conference, Sriram said, “AAP leaders sold tickets for the MCD polls to rich people and neglected their volunteers, who worked hard on the ground.”

Hitting back, AAP leader and Timarpur MLA Dilip Pandey said the BJP was releasing doctored videos because it has done little in the 15 years that it has ruled the MCD.

“The reality is that if the BJP had really done something in 15 years then they would be able to talk about their work, and would not find the need to manufacture fake sting operations before the MCD elections,” he said.

Speaking during a rally in Vadodara, Gujarat, Kejriwal, while referring to the videos released by the BJP, said, “They (the BJP) come up with fake stings every day. People do not like such kind of dirty politics. People want discussions on issues affecting them. They are unable to run their household due to rising costs...”

Meanwhile, late on Monday, Patra tweeted a video that showed the AAP’S Matiala MLA Gulab Singh being beaten up.

Patra said he was beaten up for “selling tickets”, claims Singh denied. He instead said the attack was “instigated by the BJP”.

“I have lodged an FIR against some named and some unknown persons for attacking me. The allegations are baseless. If money was taken for ticket then why they did not get the ticket,” said Singh.

Former AAP worker Bindu has exposed the party. She was asked to pay ₹80 lakh to get a ticket from Rohini ward D. SAMBIT PATRA, BJP leader

If the BJP had really done something in 15 years then they would not need to manufacture fake sting operations before the election. DILIP PANDEY, AAP MLA