Sisodia further claimed that the BJP also promised that all the cases registered against him by the CBI and ED would be withdrawn if he joined the saffron party. The BJP has strongly refuted the allegations.
AAP sources later claimed that the party has the audio recording of the BJP’s “offer” to Sisodia.
Sisodia is among 15 people and entities named in an FIR in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy. His house was recently raided by the agency.
Here are the top developments through the day:
We have audio recording of BJP’s offer to Sisodia: AAP sources
The AAP has the audio recording of the BJP’s “offer” to Sisodia that all cases against him will be dropped if he switched sides, sources in the Arvind Kejriwal-led party said on Monday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will make the audio recording public “when the time comes”, they added.
“We have the audio recording of the BJP’s offer and will make it public to expose the saffron party when the time comes,” one of the sources said.
At a press conference, AAP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh evaded a direct reply to a question on how Sisodia managed to record the BJP’s “offer” when the CBI had seized his mobile phone.
“Phone is the only medium? BJP leaders do not know what are the means they use to do such work? The BJP uses all sorts of tactics, tools and means such as phone, messengers, meetings for such work,” Singh said.
When the time comes, everything will be “disclosed”, he added. “They (BJP) have done it (approached Sisodia). They are making their moves. We are also making our moves. Wait, we will disclose everything when the time comes,” Singh said.
Got two offers from BJP, says Sisodia
Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad on Monday, Sisodia said he was surprised when someone came to him with a message that he has “two offers” from the BJP. “The messenger said one was that all big cases registered against you by CBI-ED will be taken back. The other offer was that I break the party and they will make you chief minister,” the AAP leader claimed.
“I gave a clear answer: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is my political guru and I have learnt politics from him’. I have not come into politics to be CM or PM,” Sisodia said.
“I am an honest man. In fact, I am with the Kejriwal team because I am a “kattar imandar” (staunch honest) person. These fake cases are weak, and you can’t threaten me with these,” Sisodia said at the press conference.
Asked about the name of the persons who sent him message, Sisodia said: “The person who sent me message told me that he was behind making Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal, Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam, Narayan Rane and others join the BJP. He said I could trust him because he is the man who works on making people join the BJP.” Sisodia, however, did not reveal the name of the messenger.
Will not bow to the corrupt: Delhi deputy CM
Earlier in the day, Sisodia took to Twitter to affirm his stance with the AAP, and said that he will prefer dying to bowing down to the “corrupt”.
मेरे पास भाजपा का संदेश आया है- “आप” तोड़कर भाजपा में आ जाओ, सारे CBI ED के केस बंद करवा देंगेमेरा भाजपा को जवाब-… https://t.co/Jty23mUP9V
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) 1661144445000
“My reply to the BJP is – I am a descendant of Maharana Pratap, a Rajput. I will cut off my head but will not bow down to the corrupt and those who conspire. All the cases against me are false. Do what you want to do,” Sisodia tweeted.
In response to Sisodia’s tweet, Kejriwal said: “It means that the CBI and ED raids have nothing to do with the liquor policy and corruption, These raids were carried out only to topple the AAP government in Delhi. Like they have done in other states.”
Kejriwal big liar, his ministers bigger liars: BJP
Reacting to the allegations made by Sisodia, Union minister Anurag Thakur called Kejriwal a “big liar” and his ministers “bigger liars”.
“Kejriwal is a big liar and it seems that his ministers are bigger liars,” Thakur said, adding that the Kejriwal model of governance has failed as the focus of the AAP government in Delhi has shifted from “mohalla clinics to mohalla thekas (liquor vends)”.
The BJP leader alleged that Kejriwal is the “kingpin of the liquor scam whereas Sisodia is the main accused”.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Delhi, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said Kejriwal’s silence on corruption charges proves that he is “hardcore dishonest”. Taking a dig at Kejriwal, Bhatia said whoever the Delhi CM declared as “kattar imandar” goes to jail
Sisodia deserves Bharat Ratna: Kejriwal
Sisodia deserves the Bharat Ratna for improving education standard in schools, but instead he is being hounded by the Centre due to political motives, CM Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday.
“The New York Times has lauded our education model,” said Kejriwal, who is on his fifth visit in a month to poll-bound Gujarat. “Instead of appreciating Sisodia, he is being targeted… Don’t you [BJP] feel ashamed to make the CBI conduct raids on a man who did wonders in five years, did what existing political parties could not do in 70 years and made government schools the best. Such a man should get the Bharat Ratna,” the CM said.
‘Sisodia may be arrested soon’
Kejriwal, who is the AAP national convener, expressed apprehension that Sisodia may be arrested soon.
“Manish Sisodia may be arrested; who knows I may also be arrested. All this is being done in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)