AAP Claims To Have Audio Recording Of BJP's 'Offer' To Sisodia As Kejriwal Defends His Minister. Top Updates

Delhi Excise Policy Case: Manish Sisodia claimed that he was approached by the BJP with the offer to close all cases against him if he joined their party.

New Delhi: As the investigation of the Delhi liquor scam progresses, the war of words between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is intensifying. Meanwhile, sources in the Arvind Kejriwal-led party said on Monday that AAP has the audio recording of the BJP's "offer" to Sisodia that all cases against him will be dropped if he switched sides, as reported by news agency PTI. "We have the audio recording of the BJP's offer and will make it public to expose the saffron party when the time comes," one of the sources told PTI.

Sisodia is among 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

Here Are The Latest Development To This Big Story:

1. Manish Sisodia claimed that he was approached by the BJP with the offer to close all cases against him if he joined their party. Asserting that all the allegations against him were false, Sisodia said he will never bow down before "conspirators and corrupt people". "I have received a message from the BJP -- Leave AAP and join BJP. We will ensure that all cases by CBI and ED against you are shut. "My reply to BJP -- I am a descendant of Maharana Pratap and a Rajput. I am ready to get beheaded but can never bow down before conspirators and corrupt people. All the cases against me are false. Do whatever you want to do," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

2. AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said his deputy Manish Sisodia should be given the Bharat Ratna for improving the standard of education in Delhi schools but is being hounded by the Central government due to political motives. “The New York Times has lauded our education model,” Kejriwal, on his fifth visit in a month to poll-bound Gujarat, said.

3. Sisodia claimed the BJP offered him the chief minister's post if he broke the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Addressing a press conference, he said he was surprised when someone came to him with a message that he has two offers from the BJP. "The messenger said one was that all big cases registered against you by CBI-ED will be taken back. The other offer was that I break the party and they will make you chief minister,” the AAP leader claimed. "I gave a clear political answer to them, saying Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is my political guru and I have learnt politics from him. I have not come into politics to be CM or PM," Sisodia said.

4. Launching a sharp counter-attack, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, at a press conference at its party headquarters in New Delhi, said Kejriwal is frustrated, and "accused no. 1 Manish Sisodia says he has got a message from the BJP". "I can only say, those whose intentions are faulty, and thinking is small, who can break them (jinki niyat khoti hai aur soch chhoti hai, unko koi kya todega)," Bhatia said in a mocking tone. He also told reporters that these AAP leaders will "play victim cards and several other cards" now to deflect attention from the corruption charges. "Questions of corruption have been raised on Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy, but Delhi CM running away with goal posts," Bhatia added.

5. Defending the Delhi government's liquor policy, Kejriwal said they were forced to change it. “A total 850 (liquor) shops had to open in Delhi. But only 350 shops could open, 500 shops could not open. The way the Centre and all agencies started pressuring our officers, they said no to auctioning new shops. The LG (Lieutenant Governor), police, and central agencies were putting pressure. The policy is very good, and we are ready to debate with anyone,” he said.

6. Kejriwal promised free and quality healthcare to all in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "If voted to power, the AAP government will set up clinics like 'mohalla' clinics of Delhi at village and ward levels and improve the infrastructure of government hospitals to compete with private hospitals. The AAP government will also implement the Delhi scheme of free treatment for accident victims," Kejriwal said.

7. Kejriwal compared the BJP with the Kauravas, the defeated villains of the Mahabharat, and his side to the Pandavas, the victorious heroes of the Hindu epic. He claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat is yearning for a change and the AAP has received immense support from the people. "This is a Dharamyudh (religious war) like the Mahabharat," Kejriwal said, and narrated the story of how Duryodhan (from Kauravas) and Arjun (from Pandavas) approached Lord Krishna for support before the 18-day war began.

8. Kejriwal said his government in Delhi has implemented far-reaching reforms in education and healthcare which were not seen in 75 years of Independence. He said Gujarat wants a change after 27 years of the BJP rule. "So far Gujarat did not have an alternative. Now, they have got a good, honest alternative, and people want good works to be done in the state like what all are being done in Delhi and now Punjab (also ruled by AAP)," said the bureaucrat-turned-politician.

(With PTI Inputs)