BJP backs its leaders named in cash-for-votes scam

New Delhi, Nov. 17 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday contended that three of its leaders, who have been granted bail in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam are innocent and that they had participated as whistleblowers against the ruling Congress Party.

BJP Nirmala Sitharaman maintained that granting of bail to them proves the BJP leaders participated in a whistle blowing operation as opposed to the speculation that they were involved in taking or giving bribe.

"No prima facie case is being made and there was no intention of giving or taking bribe. The fact that there is no.... or intention in this matter proves that there is no motive for giving or taking bribe; so therefore as a reason it is very clearly indicated that they participated in a whistle blowing operation," she said.

Sitharaman further said the BJP has taken strong objection to the fact that none of the Congress leaders, who in spite of being named by the parliamentary inquiry committee for their involvement in the cash-for-vote scam have not being interrogated or questioned till date.

"Till today, we are repeatedly hearing about the three BJP MPs, who brought the money to the parliament. Have the others been cross-questioned checked up, interrogated or made a part of the chargesheet? No, why is it that the other MPs who are also alleged to have been given money for voting in favour of the Congress led-UPA, why is that they are not into the questioning at all?" said Sitharaman.

"We raised that point even today. There are several and we guess and we have been told that there are several Congress leaders' names that are involved, and this is no longer a guess because parliamentary inquiry committee itself has named some Congress leaders too," she added.

L K Advani's former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni and two former BJP lawmakers Mahavir Bhagora and Faggan Singh Kulaste walked out of the Tihar Jail here on Thursday evening a day after the Delhi High Court granted bail to them in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam.

Two other accused in the case Sanjeev Saxena and Sohail Hindustani also walked out of the jail today.

The cash-for-votes scam had rocked proceedings in the Lok Sabha in 2008, when the ruling UPA Government, led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, allegedly bribed lawmakers of other parties to help winning the confidence vote. (ANI)