Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 18: Karnataka Congress has released a 2 minute 41 second audio clip, which allegedly has the conversation where mining baron G Janardhana Reddy is trying to bribe MLA from Raichur Rural Basavanagouda Daddal by offering money and post.
The clip was played in front of the media, in which Reddy is asking the legislator to switch sides and says he has backing of BJP president Amit Shah for doing horse trading.
The same allegation was posted by Karnataka Congress on Twitter: "Congress released an Audio clip where BJP leader Janaradhana Reddy is trying to lure Congress MLA from Raichur Rural by offering money and post. Janaradhana Reddy clearly says he has the backing of BJP President Amit Shah for doing horse trading!"
With Supreme Court preponing the floor test to May 19, Congress and JD(S) are keeping their MLAs together to avoid poaching attempts by the BJP.
The MLAs of BJP and JD(S) had to move out of Bengaluru's Eagleton Resort to prevent poaching attempts. On Friday, the Congress and JD(S) shifted their MLAs to Hyderabad.
Transcript of the conversation:
Basavangouda: Yes, tell me
Janardhana Reddy: Are you free?
Basavangouda: Yes, I am free
Janardhana Reddy: Forget all that has happened before, forget all the bad things. My good time has begun. The big people, the National President will sit with you and talk to you.
Whatever post you want, whatever you want, let’s speak about it one on one. After that we will take future step.
Basavangouda: No sir, they made me an MLA at the last leg, they held my hand and brought me to this level.
Janardhana Reddy: I am going to tell you one point. We formed BSR, we had formed the party when the time was very bad. The time and the situation was against us. I know you have lost a lot of your hopes but I assure you that you will grow 100 times more.
Shivan Gouda Nayak, he listened to me and came and he became minister and prospered. Today, he is able to become an MLA by himself. He has grown that much and become that powerful. It is was all because of me. Raju Gouda also prospered because of me.
Basavangouda: Oh really?
Janardhana Reddy : It was a bad time and that is why it did not work out for us. But today even though Shivan Gouda Nayak has won, it is of no use. Today, you will become the minister. Did you understand ma?
Basavangouda: Haan
Janardhana Reddy: What I am saying is I will make you sit in front of the high command and make you talk to them one on one. And today in this country they are governing it because they always keep their word. Whatever wealth you have earned I promise you, you will make 100 times more.
Basavangouda: 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 them. I respect you.
Responding to the allegation, union minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said, "This audio CD is one of the handiworks of Congress' dirty tricks department. This is a fake CD."