Cash-for-vote: BJP calls police probe a cover-up

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday termed the on-going investigation by Delhi police into the cash-for-vote scam as an "eyewash" and "cover-up", saying a clean chit had been given to Congress and Samajwadi Party without examining the whistleblower MPs and former SP leader Amar Singh.

BJP spokesperson and Member of Parliament Prakash Javadekar said the report of the Delhi police giving a clean chit to Congress and SP in the scam was shocking and alleged that the cops were succumbing to pressure from the Central government.

"Votes in return for notes (cash) is a taint on democracy. The United Progressive Alliance-I government, which was in a minority, got a majority by buying votes of MPs.... If serious investigations are done in the matter, then within 15 days the truth would come out," Javadekar said.

He demanded that the Delhi police should not "confuse and equate" the whistleblowing operation with corruption. "Our three MPs- Ashok Argal, Mahesh Bhagore and Faggan

Singh Kulaste- had exposed the vote-for-cash scam by acting as whistleblowers.

He insisted that the way the Delhi police, which had been "inactive" for the past two years on this case- was acting and giving statements in court was akin to "cheating" and a "dishonest inquiry". "Though the investigation has not been completed and all those involved have not been examined, the Delhi police have reached their conclusions. There is enough evidence about who gave Rs 1 crore to Sanjiv Saxena, why 20 MPs voted against their party whip, but this was not looked into. This is a taint on the investigation too," Javadekar said.

BJP demanded that the Supreme Court should take cognisance of these matters and monitor the probe. The apex court had pulled up Delhi police last week for the slow pace of investigations into the cash-for-vote scam.

"Sorry, we cannot call it an honest investigation. This is a cover-up and is totally atrocious. This is a complete shocker. After all, Amar Singh was not the prime minister. He was not trying to save his government. The Congress party is making all efforts to save the guilty," Javadekar said.

Asked about the names of some Congress top brass cropping up in the sting operation, he said all those involved should be summoned and brought to book.