Bengaluru: As the BJP desperately tries to make up the numbers it needs to win Saturday’s crucial floor test for the survival of the two- day old Yeddyurappa government, in a sensational turn of events, senior Congress leader, V. S. Ugrappa on Friday released an audio clip allegedly of mining baron turned politician , Gali Janardhana Reddy trying to lure a Congress MLA by offering to make him Minister and telling him he "can make 100 times more money" this way.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr Ugrappa charged BJP president Amit Shah and PM Modi with having dual standards on corruption and staging “a drama” of keeping Mr Reddy away from their party affairs. "Mr Shah should explain his stand on Mr Reddy," he demanded, referring to the audio clip in which. Mr Reddy is allegedly heard speaking to Raichur Rural MLA, Basangouda Daddal, a leader of the Valmiki community. Mr Daddal was previously a member of the Badavara Shramikara Raithara (BSR) Congress, the party floated by Mr Reddy’s confidante, B. Sriramulu in 2011 after the split in the BJP over the mining scam.
While the man, who appears to be the mining baron, repeatedly claims he will arrange a one-one-one meeting for the MLA with the party’s national president, in the audio clip, Mr Daddal can be heard saying he cannot switch sides now as the Congress gave him a chance when he was at his lowest after leaving the BSR Congress. But “Mr Reddy” insists the bad times are over, and the good times are here. "There is no doubt that you have lost a lot by believing in us. But I am telling you, you will grow a 100 times more," he adds persuasively.
Deccan Chronicle could not independently verify the veracity of the contents of the tape. Below is a translated version of the conversation:
G. Janardhan Reddy (allegedly): Is it Basanagouda? Are you free?
Basangouda Daddal: Yes it is me.
GJR: Forget all that has happened before, forget all the bad things. I am telling you, that my good time has begun. And I will arrange a meeting with the national president and you can speak to him one-to-one and we can take the next step.
BD: No sir, when I was on my last leg they made me MLA.
GJR: I will tell you one thing, BSR time we had very bad time when we formed the party, where there was a lot of opposition. There is no doubt that you have lost a lot by believing in us. But I am telling you, you will grow a 100 times more. Shivanagouda Nayak became a minister because of me. Today he is strong and able to look after himself. It all happened because of me. Raju Gowda also benefited because of me.
BD: Yes.
GJR: It was your misfortune that it was our bad time. Today Shivanagouda winning is not useful. You will become minister. Do you understand? Directly we will make you meet the big man. I will make you speak to him, you will make 100 times the wealth you have made so far.
BD: 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 him. I respect you.
