The Congress paraded its legislators from Gujarat before the media this evening in an effort to put to rest all speculation as charged by BJP.
The Congress Party on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of buying and threatening their MLAs in Gujarat for Rs. 15 crore and paraded its 44 MLAs who are camping here.
Addressing a press conference here, senior Congress MLA from Gujarat Shaktisinh Gohil said, ‘Ask these MLAs the way they are threatened, they chose to stand by party even when offered Rs 15 crore."
He said BJP is doing horse-trading and we are trying to protect the democracy. ‘BJP is hitting below the belt; we are fighting to protect democracy. We have required numbers. There is no need for us to stay here (Bengaluru) for even a minute if they (BJP) say, they won't threaten,’ Gohil said.
Hitting back at the BJP, the Congress leader further said, ‘When there was flood in Banaskantha, my MLAs were there with people but no BJP minister, leader or chief minister was there.’
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had accused the Congress party of being insensitive and irresponsible, and said that they have sent their 40 MLAs to stay in a 5-star hotel in Bengaluru, while Gujarat is facing floods.
Gohil further said that they have also managed to establish contact with seven Congress MLAs, who were reportedly inaccessible.
‘Seven MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) are in our contact, their conscience is awakening. We have requested them not to come in people's tricky ways, stick to the party,’ Gohil Said.
Earlier, the Congress had said that BJP is using "money, muscle and state power" to engineer defections, after at least six of its MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) had resigned from the party to join the BJP.
The party on July 28 flew 44 of its MLAs to Bengaluru to stop more of them from switching over to the BJP.
Leaders and party workers belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday staged a protest the MLAs of the Congress Party who are currently in the city, criticizing their absence from Gujarat at a time when the state has been hit by severe floods.
Calling out to the MLAs for the ‘irresponsible act’ BJP leader S Prakash launched a valiant attack on the grand old party, alleging that it has ‘lost all direction’.
‘Lakhs of people have lost their lives, property worth crores of rupees has been destroyed, and the elected representatives are here in a resort. This is very irresponsible on their part. Electing a Rajya Sabha leader should not take more importance than helping one’s natives at the time of need. All these leaders should go back,’ he said.
He further added: ‘It is the primary duty of a leader to help the people of his constituency, especially at a time like this. This is not the time to stay at a resort."
After six Congress MLAs from Gujarat resigned, the Congress high command swung into action and sent its 44 MLAs to Bengaluru late Friday night. The Congress has alleged that the BJP is indulging in horse-trading to win Rajya Sabha seats from State.
Speaking to the reporters, Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar said, "To ensure that BJP is not successful in its mission, 44 Congress MLAs are leaving from Gujarat for Bengaluru. The saffron party is using money power and police to pressurise our MLAs to resign."
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi accused the BJP in the state of horse-trading ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for August 8.
He said, "Crores of rupees have been spent in horse-trading in Gujarat by the BJP. One Congress Gujarat MLA Punabhai Gamit has said he was offered Rs. 10 crore by the BJP to join hands with them."
Following this, Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad laughed off the accusation and said the Congress has become a sinking ship and is not able to hold its own house together.
Meanwhile, heavy rains due to southwest monsoons have wreaked havoc in Gujarat as more than 25,000 people have been evacuated from parts of north and central Gujarat.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani assured on Saturday that the situation with regard to floods in the districts is under control. He said that over 8000 people have been rescued and 70,000 people have been shifted to safer places.
Around 100 people have lost their lives due to the floods so far.
The Golden Katar Division of the Indian Army had released two additional columns on July 26; fully equipped with specialized equipment to bolster the ongoing operations in the flood hit districts, in response to an increased requirement for aerial rescue and relief effort projected by the state government.
There are now a total of five Indian Army Columns engaged in rescuing people in the flood ravaged villages of Gujarat.
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