Aam Aadmi Party workers on Saturday staged a protest outside BJP leader Parvesh Verma's residence over allegations of cash-for-vote ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi. Verma came out and spoke to the protesting women saying money would be given to everyone.
"All women, irrespective of their political affiliation, will get benefits of the Ladli scheme by my NGO," Verma said.
The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that the BJP leader has been distributing money among women in Delhi to influence votes in favour of his party.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi alleged earlier this week that women were being called to the BJP leader's official residence and handed envelopes with Rs 1,100.
Verma is a former MP but has yet to vacate his allotted official residence.
A team by ABP reached ground zero and saw women queued up outside Verma's residence with a "kit". The woman confirmed to ABP News that she received Rs 1,100 with instructions to "press the Lotus symbol", the election symbol of the BJP, on EVMs during the elections.
"I got Rs 1,100. Everyone got the same card with their names and a registration number. They [BJP] told us that if they win, they will give us Rs 2,500," said the woman. Another woman said: "They gave us Rs 1,100 and asked us to press the lotus button."
However, Verma said the money was all accounted and added that there is nothing illegal in distributing money to the poor before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into effect.
On being asked about AAP's claim that why the CBI and ED are not raiding Verma for the alleged act, he said: "I am using the money from my account, which is all accounted money. I am using the money from my account and my NGO's account. The Model Code of Conduct is not in place now. If I give the money to any woman, then no law prevents me from doing that."
He further said he would stop distributing cash the day MCC will be imposed. "As soon as the elections are over, I will start giving the money again," Verma said.