Bengaluru: The Congress party on Friday released a sensational audio clip in which mining baron Janardhana Reddy can be heard trying to lure a Congress MLA by offering to make him a minister so that he “can make 100 times more money".
In the audio clip, Reddy, who is close to BS Yeddyurappa, speaks to Raichur Rural MLA Basangouda Daddal, a prominent leader of the Valmiki community. Daddal was previously a member of the Badavara Shramikara Raithara (BSR) Congress, the party floated by Reddy aide B Sriramulu in 2011 after the split in BJP over the mining scam.
Reddy repeatedly claims that he will arrange a one-on-one meeting for the MLA with the party’s national president Amit Shah. Daddal can be heard saying that he can’t switch sides now as the Congress had given him a chance when he was at the lowest point after leaving the BSR Congress.
But Reddy insists that the bad times are over, and the good times are here. “There is no doubting that you have lost a lot by believing in us. But I am telling you, you will grow a 100 times more," Reddy says.
“Directly we will make you meet the big man. I will make you speak to him... you will make 100 times the wealth you made so far," he adds.
The audio clip, released just a day before BS Yeddyurappa takes a floor test, comes as a major embarrassment for the BJP. HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, who is also the BJP’s Karnataka in charge, said that the release of the audio tape was another “dirty trick" by the Congress. “People are coming to us themselves. This is because we have people’s mandate. We condemn it. Releasing these CDs means Congress is going to lose tomorrow," he said.
News18 cannot independently verify the veracity of the contents of the tape.
Below is a translated version of the conversation:
Janardhana Reddy (purportedly): Is it Basanagouda? Are you free?
Basangouda Daddal: Yes it is me.
JR: Forget all that has happened before, forget all the bad things. I am telling you, that my good time has begun. And I will arrange a meeting with the national president and you can speak to him one-to-one and we can take the next step.
BD: No sir, when I was on my last leg they made me MLA.
JR: I will tell you one thing. BSR time we had very bad time when we formed the party, where there was a lot of opposition. There is no doubting that you have lost a lot by believing in us. But I am telling you, you will grow a 100 times more. Shivanagouda Nayak became a minister because of me. Today he is strong and able to look after himself. It all happened because of me. Raju Gowda also benefitted because of me.
BD: Yes.
JR: It was your misfortune that it was our bad time. Today Shivanagouda winning is not useful. You will become minister. Did you understand? Directly we will make you meet the big man. I will make you speak to him... you will make 100 times the wealth you made so far.
BD: I am sorry sir. I was on my last leg when they gave me a ticket and made me win. In such a situation I cannot betray him. I respect you...
With just a day left for the trust vote, allegations of horse trading and poaching are flying thick and fast. Congress leader Siddaramiah said that its MLA Anand Singh was “abducted" by the BJP and taken to Delhi. Former home minister Ramalinga Reddy alleged that BJP leaders have been calling the MLAs incessantly to try to bribe them.
Earlier too, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy had claimed that BJP leaders were offering Rs 100 crore to lure the party’s MLAs. The Congress and JDS had shepherded its MLAs to Hyderabad on Thursday night to prevent any desertions.
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