Congress alleges BJP of indulging in cash for votes in Arunachal Pradesh ahead of PM Modi's rally

The Congress on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was indulging in cash for votes ahead of the first phase of voting for the Lok Sabha elections.

Randeep Surjewala (Source: PTI)

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was indulging in cash for votes ahead of the first phase of voting for the Lok Sabha elections, a charge denied by the party. Addressing a media briefing, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that money had been distributed among the people ahead of the PM’s rally at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. Surjewala substantiated his allegation by showing two videos (the authenticity of which cannot be verified) and said that on Tuesday night, around 10.30 pm, during a raid on Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu’s convoy, the police recovered Rs 180 lakh in Rs 500 notes. The videos show the money being removed from one of the cars in the Khandu’s convoy and also reveals the registration plates of two cars apart from various police officers. Having played the videos, Surjewala said, “The sensational disclosures and the two videos... prove a massive vote scandal... a midnight raid on a convoy of the AP CM Pema Khandu led to recovery of Rs 180 lakh in 500 rupee notes.” Surjewala said, “Cash was transported in certain vehicles parked at the Siang guest house at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. Five vehicles were searched on the complaint of members of the Youth Congress.” Reacting to the allegations, Khandu said he came to know about the matter Wednesday morning and the Election Commission is probing it. "I heard about it yesterday night and came to know about it in the morning. This is the practice that the Congress does and not the BJP. Now, the Elections Commission is monitoring the matter and the IT department is also looking into it. I have also called party president to look into it. In the coming days, we will get to know what's the picture," he said. "Investigation under the Election Commission will reveal all the details. We have got the information that it has been recovered from a BJP candidate's car," he added.