Author: Shobhita Naithani
Publication: Tehelka
Date: August 16, 2008
URL: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne160808incoldblood.asp
Q.: What do you mean when you say you have
"documentary proof" against Amar Singh in the cash for vote scam?
A.: This crime of bribery comprised three stages. The first was the offer
to MPs, the second was their meeting with Amar Singh, and the third is the
actual payment of money through his assistant Sanjeev Saxena. All three stages
are on the videocassette. Additionally, the cameraman and reporter of the
channel that recorded it are corroborative witnesses. The MPs themselves are
a direct witness. And the fact of Sanjeev Saxena being Amar Singh's man can
be corroborated from the video with independent evidence. He speaks to Amar
Singh at least six times. His phone shows calls made to Amar Singh's residence
during that period. The car in which he came is registered in the name of
Amar Singh's family members. And we have given huge proof. In fact, only one
proof itself is enough. Now that it is admitted that Sanjeev Saxena came with
the bribe money, who is he and whose man is he? We have given voluminous evidence
including documentary evidence in his own handwriting showing that his place
of work was 27, Lodhi Estate and he is Amar Singh's man.
Q.: How would you refute allegations from
former colleague, Uma Bharti who has accused you, a BJP general secretary,
a party chief minister and some MPs of having a hand in planning the entire
cash for vote episode?
A.: She doesn't deserve a reply.
Q.: Why not?
A.: Her politics have sunk so low that she can only tout fabrications at the
behest of Amar Singh. I don't think she deserves a serious comment.
Q.: Are you trying to cover up because there
is disarray in your own house? Eight of your MPs cross-voted during the trust
vote in the Lok Sabha.
A.: Why is it a cover up? I think your conscience should prick on the question
of corruption. This is the kind of investigation that TEHELKA should have
been carrying out rather than us. We are giving evidence of the fact - even
if we give it in the case of three MPs - that money was used to influence
the vote.
Q.: Was it then a planned strategy by the
BJP to display the bundles of cash in the Parliament on the day of the trust
vote?
A.: Well, once you have got evidence to prove that bribe was given, it is
necessary to arouse the national consciousness.
Q.: There was a time when BJP questioned sting
operations. Doesn't the current one by your party fall in the realm of entrapment?
A.: I don't think we have ever questioned the very idea of sting operations.
The fact is that one has to be careful about the veracity of the facts, that's
all.
Q.: When your former party president Bangaru
Laxman was stung, the party did question the sting operation.
A.: We had made him resign the very night that the sting took place.
Q.: But the BJP did question it
A.: You see, there was a difference regarding the interpretation of evidence
in some cases, but the concept of sting operations was never questioned.