Chandigarh:
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Punjab Bhagwant Mann, on Sunday, claimed that he was recently offered money from a “very senior” BJP leader who asked him to leave Arvind Kejriwal-led party and join the national party. Mann also claimed that the BJP leader offered him a cabinet berth at the Centre in return to switch loyalty.
The statement by Bhagwant Mann holds quite a significance as it comes days ahead of the much-awaited Punjab Assembly election.
“A very senior leader of a national party called me four days back asking me to leave AAP. He offered me sops like money and a Cabinet Minister berth in the Modi cabinet with portfolio of my choice,” the AAP MP said.
Mann said he declined the offer saying he is a man on a “mission not commission”. He added that he was not someone who could be bought with money power or similar allurements.
The lone AAP MP from Punjab even claimed that the BJP was in touch with several other AAP MLAs in the state.
He remained silent on the name of the senior BJP leader who approached him but quoted that he was asked, “Mann sahab (sir), what would you take to join the BJP?” He added that the leader also asked if “you need money”.
Mann also alleged, “The party (BJP) is responsible for death of 750 farmers, mowing down of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, branding farmers as terrorists, making farmers sit along Delhi borders for a year, does not have the money to purchase Bhagwant Mann.”
Bhagwant Mann also said that BJP leaders are not allowed to enter villages in Punjab and are facing anger from farmers over the agricultural laws that its government at the Centre introduced.
“No one who has the future of Punjab in mind would join the BJP,” Mann said in boisterous way.
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